Mathurin, Walker show shooting touch as Pacers top Cavs in preseason

INDIANAPOLIS – Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker flashed the potential that made them lottery picks as the Pacers notched their first win of the preseason.

Mathurin scored 25 points on 8 for 12 shooting (5 for 8 from 3-point range) while Walker finished with 12 on a perfect shooting night: 3 for 3 (2 for 2 from 3-point range and 4 for 4 from the free throw line).

Mathurin played 19 minutes, while Walker logged 18 minutes in Indiana’s 129-117 road win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.

Mathurin sat out the last 18 games of the previous season and missed the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals due to a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Thursday night’s game saw the return of centers Myles Turner and Isaiah Jackson after both players missed Indiana’s first preseason game against Atlanta.

The Pacers’ starters logged their minutes in the first half and didn’t see the floor in the third or fourth quarters. Several of Cleveland’s starters sat out Thursday’s game, including Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.

The Pacers trailed 70-69 at halftime. They took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Cavs 32-18 during the frame to take a 101-88 lead.

Cleveland outscored Indiana in the fourth (29-28) but couldn’t cut down the deficit.

The Pacers play two home preseason games next week (Oct. 14 vs. Memphis and Oct. 17 vs. Charlotte). They open the regular season on the road against Detroit on Oct. 23.

The regular-season home opener is Oct. 27 against Philadelphia.

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