Pacers Surge Past Cavaliers as Mathurin Ejected After Game 4 Fight

Early Ejection Ignites Pacers’ Dominance

Right as the opening quarter picked up intensity, Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin and Cleveland’s Hunter clashed in a heated altercation that ended with Mathurin getting tossed from Game 4. Officials took a long look at the replay: Mathurin clearly punched Hunter during a testy transition play, drawing a flagrant 2 foul and an instant ejection. Both squads received technicals, but it was Indiana who turned all that chaos into fuel.

The Pacers didn’t shrink back after losing Mathurin. Instead, they tore out of the gates, rolling over Cleveland’s defense with an 80-point first half. It wasn’t just one hot hand, either. Pacers veterans Miles Turner and Pascal Siakam put up 20 and 21 points respectively, making sure the offense kept humming even with Mathurin gone. T.J. McConnell zipped around the court for 13 points, while rookie Ben Sheppard made a splash off the bench with clutch threes, scoring 14 in his playoff debut.

Cavaliers Struggle as Pacers Take Control

You could see Cleveland getting rattled after the first quarter—no surprise, considering the mixing it up inside and Indiana’s unrelenting pace. The Cavaliers tried matching Indiana’s physicality, but ended up with foul trouble and breakdowns on the perimeter. Their rotations looked a step slow, and whenever they found a bit of offensive rhythm, the Pacers would immediately answer on the other end.

Indiana’s balanced attack left little opportunity for the Cavaliers to mount a comeback. Every time Cleveland keyed in on one scorer, another Pacer found space and knocked down shots. Turner bullied his way into the paint, Siakam spun through traffic, and McConnell kept everyone moving. Even the Pacers’ bench forced bad switches, punishing Cleveland’s second-string defenders. Sheppard’s energy was contagious; not bad for a rookie in a high-stakes playoff brawl.

The Cavaliers’ struggles weren’t just tactical—they seemed hesitant, bracing for more scrums after the first-half fireworks. Despite the pressure, their offense never found a strong rhythm. And now, things look even shakier: one of Cleveland’s players, unnamed by the team, is set to undergo an MRI before Game 5. The details are under wraps, but with the Pacers up 3-1, the Cavaliers can’t afford more setbacks if they want to keep their season alive.