Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers got a big win against one of the NBA's best teams on Thursday night thanks to the contributions of freshman shooting guard Benedict Mathurin.
The fourth-year guard was traded to the Clippers on the day of the NBA trade deadline in a package that brought Isaiah Jackson and some draft picks to Los Angeles in exchange for All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac.
In his third game with the team since the acquisition – and his first game inside the Intuit Dome as a Clipper – Mathurin led the Clippers' comeback win.
Benedict Mathurin scored 38 points in his first game at home, leading the Clippers to a 115–114 win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The guard shot 12 of 22 from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line in the win, scored 11 points off the bench in the first quarter and poured in 16 points in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
“He's doing it,” Kawhi Leonard said of his new teammate. “It's great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the NBA Finals [against the Oklahoma City Thunder]. “He was doing that all year with the Pacers, in the finals last year, so it's great to have him.”
Kawhi Leonard on Benedict Mathurin's 38-point night vs. Nuggets:
"He's doing that. It's great to have another scorer that can get 30 points, saw him in the finals. He was doing that with the Pacers in the finals last year, so it's great to have him." pic.twitter.com/rDreMcknPn
-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 20 February 2026
Mathurin had some big performances for the Indiana Pacers last season, including a 27-point performance in Game 3, helping his team take a 2–1 series lead, and a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 7, after Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles tendon.
"He's been aggressive since he's been playing with us, but it was great," Leonard said. "Like you said, he scored 11 in the first, and he continued it from there. He came out in transition, made some layups, hit some big three-point shots. Guarded very well, so it's been a great pickup."
Benedict Mathurin has increased his scoring, rebounding and assists for three consecutive seasons, but now he has a chance to develop a consistency that was not available to him at Indiana under head coach Rick Carlisle.
“It's going to be amazing [playing under head coach Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after last night's win. “He might end up being my best friend.” He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me how I am, and I feel like he really knows my game. He knows exactly what I can do. So, I'm glad to have him as our coach and I think with everyone together we can do great things."
Thursday night was also the second consecutive game in which Mathurin reached double-digit free throw attempts, displaying the ability to not only score at a high level, but also pressure the defense and get to the free throw line, where he shot 83.6 percent for his career.
