Bennedict Mathurin scored 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting including 5 of 8 from 3-point range to lead the Pacers to a 129-117 win over the Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Center in Cleveland on Thursday, improving to 1-1 in the preseason.
Forward Jarace Walker scored 12 points on 3 of 3 shooting, hitting a pair of 3s as well as four free throws. Center Myles Turner added 12, forward Aaron Nesmith added 10. Cleveland native and former Akron star Enrique Freeman posted nine points and nine rebounds off the bench, though he left the game with injury.
The Pacers were outscored 29-28 in the fourth quarter but still held on to cruise to a win with the end of both benches in the game. James Wiseman scored eight points on 4 of 4 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds and less than seven minutes in the fourth. Cleveland native Enrique Freeman was also excellent, especially on the offensive glass. In the fourth quarter alone, he scored four points and grabbed six rebounds including four on the offensive end. For the game he grabbed nine points and nine rebounds including seven on offense.
He had a scary moment toward the end of the game, though, when he landed awkwardly on his right leg. He hobbled off the floor and trainers worked on him as if he was dealing with cramps, but he had to eventually be carried off the floor.
Though their starters called it a night at halftime, the Pacers finally took full control of the game in the third, outscoring the Cavs 32-18. They were 11 of 26 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3, posting 1.20 points per possession while the Cavs shot 8 of 21 and 2 of 9 and finished with 0.72 points per trip.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 points in the third quarter alone and he has presumably checked out for good with 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Really strong performance from him all around. Also Jarace Walker leaves with 12 points on 3 of 3 shooting including 2 of 2 from 3-point range, plus 4 of 4 at the line.
The Pacers are keeping their rotations tight in the second game. Ben Sheppard hasn't played a minute yet. Isaiah Jackson got his first work of the preseason but only played two minutes. Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam have each played 16 minutes or more and Jarace Walker is the only player who wasn't a regular rotation player last year who hasn't received heavy minutes.
Perhaps as a result, the Pacers look really sharp on offense. They're 25 of 45 from the floor, 7 of 18 from 3 and 12 of 13 from the line with 18 assists against just four turnovers and they're posting 1.36 points per possession. They scored 41 points in the second period and shot 65.2% from the floor in the period posting over 1.60 points per possession.
Defense, though, has been a problem. As per usual. And it stands out even more because the Cavs are voluntarily playing without a full deck.
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Caris LeVert and Max Strus are all resting, and those are arguably the Cavs' four best perimeter scorers. Jarrett Allen is playing but Evan Mobley isn't, so they're down one of their best two bigs. The Cavs starters on Thursday were mostly rotation guys last year but their second unit players in this game were deep on their bench.
But so far, they're shooting 28 of 48 from the floor, 8 of 17 from 3 and 6 of 9 at the line, posting 1.35 points per possession. They have 34 points in the paint to the Pacers' 28, having way too easy of a time as usual driving the basketball and finding bigs for easy finishes around the rim. They were just as good on offense in the Pacers in the second quarter, shooting 64% from the floor.
So as per usual, the Pacers' defense still has a long way to go.
A few individual bright spots at the break, though. After struggling as a shooter in both Fan Jam and the loss to the Hawks, Bennedict Mathurin has 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting. Jarace Walker has nine points with just two field goal attempts and also has a pair of assists. Myles Turner has 13 points.
The Pacers are facing a Cavaliers team that is sitting most of its starters for the second preseason game, and as they have tended to do in such cases in the past few years, they started a little lethargic. They fell behind out of the gate 7-0, allowing the Cavaliers to make their first three shots before they even attempted a field goal with a pair of turnovers. They rallied back to take a lead and went on an 8-0 run at one point but fell behind by five and needed a buzzer-beating floater by Bennedict Mathurin to get within three at the end of the period.
The Pacers shot 10 of 22 from the field in the first quarter and posted 1.11 points per possession. The Cavs were 12 of 23 and 5 of 9 from 3 with 1.20 points per possession.
With Myles Turner back, the Pacers are going back with their traditional starters.
PG -- Tyrese Haliburton
SG -- Andrew Nembhard
SF -- Aaron Nesmith
PF -- Pascal Siakam
C -- Myles Turner
The Cavaliers are resting four of their five starters as well as two key subs.
PG -- Ty Jerome
SG -- Jaylon Tyson
SF -- Isaac Okoro
PF -- Dean Wade
C -- Jarrett Allen
Pacers rookie wing Johnny Furphy will miss Thursday's game with a sprained left ankle, but centers Myles Turner (right knee contusion) and Isaiah Jackson (right hamstring strain) were not listed on the injury report, suggesting they'll be available after sitting out Tuesday's preseason game against the Hawks.
The Cavaliers announced prior to gametime that they will be sitting out six players including four of their five starters, though only two of them are dealing with injuries. Starters Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Max Strus will all be out. Strus is dealing with a hip injury and is day-to-day anyway. Reserves Caris LeVert and Sam Merrill are also out. Merrill has been dealing with a sore right wrist.
7 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
This game is not televised
Radio : 93.5, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle (play-by-play)
Thur., Oct. 10, at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 14, vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
Thur., Oct. 17, vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m.
October
Wed., Oct. 23, at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Fri., Oct. 25, at New York (ESPN), 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 27, vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 28, at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 30, vs. Boston, 7 p.m., ESPN
November
Fri., Nov. 1, at New Orleans, 8 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 4, at Dallas, 9:45 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 6, vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
Fri., Nov. 8, at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 10, vs. New York, 5 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 13, at Orlando, 7 p.m.
*-Fri., Nov. 15, vs. Miami, 7 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 17, vs. Miami, 5 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 18, at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 20, at Houston, 8 p.m.
*-Fri., Nov. 22, at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sun., Nov. 24, vs. Washington, 5 p.m.
Mon., Nov. 25, vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m.
Wed., Nov. 27, vs. Portland, 7 p.m.
*-Fri., Nov. 29, vs. Detroit, 8 p.m.
December
Sun., Dec. 1, at Memphis, 3:30 p.m.
*-Tue., Dec. 3, at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 4, at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 6, at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 8, vs. Charlotte, 5 p.m.
Dec. 10, 11, 14, 17 : NBA Cup knockout rounds
Dec. 12, 13, 15, 16 : regular-season games
Thur., Dec. 19, at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 22, at Sacramento, 6 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 23, at Golden State, 10 p.m.
Thur., Dec. 26, vs. Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 27, at Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 29, at Boston, 6 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 31, vs. Milwaukee, 3 p.m.
January
Thur., Jan. 2, at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 4, vs. Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 6, at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 8, vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 10, vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 12, at Cleveland, 6 p.m.
Tue., Jan. 14, vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m., TNT
Thur., Jan. 16, at Detroit, 7 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 18, vs. Philadelphia, 5 p.m.
Thur., Jan. 23, vs. San Antonio (in Paris), 2 p.m., NBA TV
Sat., Jan. 25, at San Antonio (in Paris), noon, ESPN
Wed., Jan. 29, vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.
February
Sat., Feb. 1, vs. Atlanta, 5 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 3, at Utah, 9 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 4, at Portland, 10 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 6, at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 8, at L.A. Lakers, 4 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 11, New York, 7:30 p.m., TNT
Wed., Feb. 12, at Washington, 7 p.m.
Thur., Feb. 20, vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 23, vs. L.A. Clippers, 5 p.m.
Mon., Feb. 24, vs. Denver, 7 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 26, vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 28, at Miami, 8 p.m.
March
Sun., March 2, vs. Chicago, 5 p.m.
Tue., March 4, vs. Houston, 7 p.m.
Thur., March 6, at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., March 8, at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Mon., March 10, at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Tue., March 11, vs. Milwaukee 7 p.m., TNT
Fri., March 14, at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Sat., March 15, at Milwaukee, 8 p.m.
Mon., March 17, at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Wed., March 19, vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
Thur., March 20, vs. Brooklyn, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Sat., March 22, vs. Brooklyn, 5 p.m.
Mon., March 24, vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.
Wed., March 26, vs. L.A. Lakers, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Thur., March 27, at Washington, 7 p.m.
Sat., March 29, at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Mon., March 31, vs. Sacramento, 7 p.m.
April
Wed., April 2, vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Fri., April 4, vs. Utah, 7 p.m.
Sun., April 6, at Denver, 8 p.m.
Tue., April 8, vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
Thur., April 10, vs. Cleveland, 7 p.m., TNT
Fri., April 11, vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
Sun., April 13, at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bennedict Mathurin scores 25 points to lead Pacers over Cavs in preseason
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