Stud - Bennedict Mathurin
Ahead of this contest, there had been a ton of discourse surrounding the play of Bennedict Mathurin, as through the first seven games of the year, the sophomore wing has been struggling.
After his amazing rookie season, Mathurin’s minutes and shot attempts were both down, and most importantly, his efficiency was brutal from both the field and from distance.
However, against the Utah Jazz, Mathurin was one of the best players on the court for the Indiana Pacers, as he put up stellar numbers across the board.
Mathurin finished the contest with a team-high 22 points (tied with Myles Turner), nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals while shooting 9-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-7 from behind the three-point line. He was also a team-high +18.
At 21 years old, Mathurin is bound to deal with some struggles, but this is the type of night the Pacers want to see from him as he continues to develop as a player.
He has all the tools to be a second star on this Pacers team next to Haliburton, but he needs to churn out these types of performances on a more consistent basis.
Mathurin was the best player on the court for Indiana against the Jazz, and a big reason why they were able to walk away with a victory.