The Indiana Pacers are going through a very difficult defensive phase and recent games have been among the worst of the season for Quebec’s Bennedict Mathurin. His team was defeated 143-130 by the Hawks in Atlanta on Saturday.
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After picking up two small points against the Boston Celtics on Friday, the young Montrealer did little better with four points in 24 minutes on the ground. He attempted only four shots and hit two.
The Pacers aren’t doing so well defensively. They have allowed the opponent at least 110 points in 17 games in a row. It’s also the third time in a month that Indiana has let its rivals score 140 points.
It was a group effort for the Hawks, with eight players topping 10 points. John Collins led the team with 21 points. Jordan Nwora was damage limited for the Pacers with a career-high 33 points in 2022-23.
Mathurin and his teammates are gradually moving away from a place in the playoffs. Their 33-42 record is good for 12th place in the Eastern Conference, with the top 10 teams moving up to the spring tournament.