Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers turned into a heated, physical showdown filled with confrontations and hard fouls. The intensity was exceptionally high between Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter and Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, who clashed early and often.
The tension between Hunter and Mathurin started in the first quarter. With 4:32 remaining, Mathurin delivered a hit to Hunter’s midsection near the foul line. Hunter stormed toward Mathurin and forcefully shoved him to the floor using both hands. As emotions boiled over, Hunter issued a challenge.
“I’ll meet you off the court,” he said.
De’Andre Hunter to Bennedict Mathurin:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 12, 2025
“I'll meet you. I'll meet you off the court.”
(h/t @Rob_Shenanigans)pic.twitter.com/D5DefTyLub
Pacers center Myles Turner quickly intervened in the brawl. He rushed over and pushed Hunter in defense of his teammate. The referees gave Hunter and Turner technical fouls for their involvement in the altercation.
This wasn’t the first time Hunter and Mathurin had issues in the series. In Game 1, both players were hit with double technical fouls after a confrontation.
Bennedict Mathurin Received A Flagrant Foul For An Altercation
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After reviewing the incident on replay, the officials determined that Mathurin had made contact with Hunter’s chest with a closed fist. As a result, they assessed him with a flagrant two foul, which led to an automatic ejection from the game.
Benedict Mathurin is EJECTED for hitting DeAndre Hunter 😳
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) May 12, 2025
Hunter was assessed a Technical Foul for shoving Mathurin.
(via NBA) pic.twitter.com/fuZXt3eu8Q
Following the foul, Hunter was awarded two free throws. However, he converted only one of the two attempts from the line.
Despite Mathurin’s early exit, the Pacers came out on top. Indiana cruised to a dominant 129-109 victory over the top-seeded Cavaliers. With the win, the Pacers now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. The win gave Mathurin the last laugh.
