The Indiana Pacers’ run to the NBA Finals was magical, and though it didn’t finish effectively for them, some spectacular participant performances had been displayed all through the playoffs.
Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the workforce and carried them all through the playoffs with clutch performances within the sequence in opposition to the New York Knicks and even the OKC Thunder.
He had an ideal begin to the NBA Finals and had 9 factors within the first seven minutes of Recreation 7 in opposition to the Thunder, however he suffered an Achilles damage and needed to be helped to the locker room.
Pascal Siakam was additionally instrumental to the Pacers’ run, as he averaged 20.5 factors and 6.3 rebounds on a extremely environment friendly 51.3% capturing from the sector within the playoffs.
Gamers like Andrew Nembhard, TJ McConnell and Aaron Nesmith additionally contributed massively, however based on Tim MacMahon, there was one other star on the Pacers who performed a key function.
Bennedict Mathurin had some huge performances within the 2025 Playoffs for the Pacers, together with a memorable Recreation 3 efficiency the place he scored 27 factors to assist the workforce to a 116-107 win.
The next recreation, Mathurin simply performed 14 minutes and managed to attain solely eight factors.
Even within the sequence in opposition to the New York Knicks, Mathurin’s minutes stored fluctuating between 21 within the first recreation to 11, 8 and 12 within the following matchups, earlier than getting 25 in Recreation 5.
Carlisle had revealed that Mathurin was going to play a beginning function subsequent season, however with the Pacers shorthanded, ESPN’s MacMahon questioned if the coach even absolutely had religion within the participant.
Talking on the ‘Hoops Collective’ podcast, MacMahon mentioned: “Rick Carlisle didn’t absolutely belief him as a result of he had the massive Recreation 3 once they received.
“He went 9-12 from the ground and scored 27 in 23 minutes and solely performed 14 minutes within the subsequent recreation.
“So actions over phrases, Rick can say he trusts him all he desires, the man simply had an enormous recreation was a large think about a Finals win that gave them the sequence lead and regained homecourt benefit at that time after which within the very subsequent recreation didn’t play him an entire lot.”
Mathurin has been a helpful participant for the Pacers, since they drafted him in 2022.
He likes to attain and can be one of the vital athletic gamers within the NBA. Whereas defending shouldn’t be his robust swimsuit, his physicality and construct may also help him to turn into turning into a strong two-way possibility.
His promotion to being a full-time starter is predicted to convey extra maturity to his recreation.
Mathurin is a below-par three-point shooter, and he will likely be hoping to work on that within the offseason.
Apart from that, he additionally must be a greater decision-maker because the Pacers will likely be with out their star level guard. He’s anticipated to play as a capturing guard, however Mathurin might need to take extra accountability alongside Nembhard.
| Season | Factors | Rebounds | Three-point % |
| 2024-25 | 16.1 | 5.3 | 34.0% |
| 2023-24 | 14.5 | 4.0 | 37.4% |
| 2022-23 | 16.7 | 4.1 | 32.3% |
The Pacers aren’t anticipated to take the East by storm subsequent season as a consequence of Haliburton’s damage and the departure of their heart Myles Turner.
However it is going to give gamers like Nembhard and Mathurin an opportunity to showcase their expertise and take accountability for the franchise till Haliburton returns from his Achilles damage.
