NBA Suspends Bennedict Mathurin of the Pacers for 1 Game

On Wednesday, the NBA declared that guard Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers would be suspended for one game without pay. Mathurin was suspended for “verbally abusing a game official” and “making inappropriate contact with him” during Tuesday’s 127-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He will not play against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

In one match, Mathurin received an unusual three technicals and was kicked out of the game. According to Jack Maloney of CBS Sports, he began to complain to referee Natalie Sago after being called for a foul on Evan Mobley in the fourth quarter.

The guard shoved her and clapped in her face while he was complaining as she headed to the scorer’s table to validate the call. He received two technicals and was dismissed, making three in all.

Bennedict Mathurin ban justified?

After a dunk early in the game, Mathurin was also given a technical foul for hanging on the rim.

In the aftermath, he informed reporters: “The heat of the game kind of got me heated,”

Although Maloney pointed out that crew leader Zach Zarba told a pool reporter that Mathurin was “doing a pull-up or a chin-up on the rim where his whole head was above the rim,” the first technical penalty appeared dubious at best.

Mathurin would have had a good night if not for the ejection and three technicals. He shot 8 of 12 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc to finish with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.

It was a strong performance against the team leading the Eastern Conference, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Cavaliers. When Mathurin rejoins the Indiana lineup for Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, he will be hoping to perform well once more.

The post NBA Suspends Bennedict Mathurin of the Pacers for 1 Game appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.