Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin Keeps Supreme Confidence Simple

On Thursday, the Indiana Pacers bested the Cleveland Cavaliers in a preseason game, 129-117. The Pacers made a blistering 41 percent of their threes in the matchup, running away with a victory after entering halftime down by a point.

After missing the entirety of the playoffs with a shoulder injury last season, Bennedict Mathurin is back to business for the Pacers, and his return and development could be the thing that keeps Indiana in contention this season after the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers had busy offseasons.

His 25 points led all scorers, and he added three rebounds and an assist for good measure. He shot a blistering eight-of-12 from the field and made five of his eight shots from behind the arc. Last season, he shot 37.4 percent from behind the arc but has added a lot of confidence in his prolonged offseason.

As long as he's making shots, Rick Carlisle doesn't want him to think twice about pulling up from anywhere on the court.

"Ben Mathurin does not have a confidence issue. That'd be the very last thing I'd be concerned about with him but he was able to get a rhythm," said Carlisle. "He's been getting to the gym early, even on the road, half hour, 40 minutes early, getting shots up and working at getting his rhythm back."

Mathurin made it clear that he missed playing, and didn't suit up for Canada in the Olympic Games. Even with seven months since his last game, he's aware that he can be a deadly scorer and didn't mince words.

"If I shoot the ball, [it's] gonna go in," said Mathurin. "

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The Pacers, who have built an identity on fast-paced offense, can use all the shooters they can get, and Mathurin seems ready to take a leap.