標籤: Benedict

The LA Clippers have been one of the best teams in the league since mid-December, but have faltered with a few losses of late as injuries have mounted. Kawhi Leonard is currently out with a sprained left ankle and now the franchise will be without its sixth player in Benedict Mathurin.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Clippers announced that Mathurin would miss Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans due to a right toe injury. Mathurin will not play in any of the three games during this Clippers road trip as he continues to receive treatment for an injured toe.

Mathurin played 34 minutes off the bench in Monday night’s loss against the San Antonio Spurs, and finished with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals on 5 of 12 shooting.

After the game, reporters in the locker room said that Mathurin was seen walking a little strangely.

In addition to Mathurin’s three-game absence, the Clippers have listed both Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland as questionable for Wednesday night’s game against the Pelicans, the first game of a back-to-back set in New Orleans for the Clippers.

This stretch would culminate in a second five-seven of the month for the Clippers, who also played one game to start March.

After climbing from a 6-21 start to the regular season to 34-32, the Clippers have now lost two straight games and must find ways to remain in the ever-competitive Western Conference. As of Wednesday morning, the Clippers will be just one game ahead of the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors and just 1.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Clippers currently lead their season series against the Warriors 2–1 with one game remaining, while they lead their season series against the Trail Blazers 2–0 with two more games remaining. In fact, the final two games of the season for the Clippers are against the Blazers on April 10 and against the Warriors on April 12.

Since arriving in a trade from the Indiana Pacers in early February, Benedict Mathurin has been a star in his role as the sixth man for the Clippers. In his 16 appearances with his new team so far, Mathurin has averaged 19.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Clippers, while shooting 43.3 percent from the floor.

On Sunday evening, the Los Angeles Clippers suffered their second consecutive loss with a close home loss to the Orlando Magic. It was a tightly contested game throughout, but ultimately, the Clippers fell when Benedict Mathurin’s last-second shot to win the game hit the back of the iron and fell out.

After the game, Kawhi Leonard, who passed out to Mathurin for an open look, had a supportive message for the Clippers’ recent trade acquisition from the Indiana Pacers.

According to Joe Lynn of Sports Illustrated on Twitter, “Ben got wide open. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it. But that’s basketball. Things happen. We took a good look and he’ll be ready next time.”

Mathurin also got 100% real insight into the missed shots, as well as what it means to have someone like Leonard in his corner.

“It was great to have that experience. Obviously I wish I had made that shot, but there’s nothing I can do except work on it more… It means a lot. In my opinion, [Kawhi] He is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. So for them to come out to show love and support and show that there’s a lot more ahead of me – for a guy who’s made a lot of shots, it was great to see,” he said.

The Clippers have now lost two straight games following their recent win over the Denver Nuggets, but they are still comfortably in postseason position in the Western Conference, sitting five games above the Memphis Grizzlies for the final play-in spot.

Mathurin was acquired from the Pacers in exchange for big man Ivica Zubac as part of the Clippers’ trade deadline fire sale, in which they sent James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Darius Garland.

The Clippers next play on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The LA Clippers begin the post-All-Star break portion of their season with a matchup against the powerful Denver Nuggets, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. The game got off to a bad start for the Clippers. That is, until Benedict Mathurin checked in.

Denver blew a 13-4 lead over the Clippers in Thursday night’s contest, trapping Kawhi Leonard 30 feet from the basket and forcing him to make other players. Benedict Mathurin checked in midway through the third quarter and immediately contributed 11 points off the bench in six minutes of the first quarter.

This was a far cry from the Mathurin everyone saw debuting for the Clippers against the Houston Rockets a week ago, and it was exactly what the Clippers needed against the Nuggets.

“We had a conversation during the first game in Houston,” head coach Tyronn Lue said of Benedict Mathurin. “I thought he was really passive, turned down some shots, wasn’t aggressive. I pulled him to the sideline during a timeout and told him, ‘You’ve got to be aggressive, you’ve got to be who you are, and we’ll figure out the rest.’ We needed everything we got tonight. “He’s aggressive, getting to the basket, getting to the free throw line and making some big shots for us.”

Mathurin not only made a strong start to the Clippers’ offense and did not give up all night. In his third game since the trade deadline deal that traded him to the Indiana Pacers, Benedict Mathurin recorded a Clippers franchise record for points in a home debut. The Clippers guard led the way with 38 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 from the free throw line.

“Man, this is going to be awesome [playing for Tyronn Lue],” Mathurin said after the win. He could be my best friend. He told me to be aggressive, man. He told me to be myself, and I feel like he really knows my game. He really knows what I can do. It’s been a pleasure to have him as a coach. And I think by bringing everybody together, we can do a lot of great things.”

Kawhi Leonard, who was battling an illness, recorded 23 points, four rebounds and three assists, but saw double-teams and traps all night by the Nuggets defense that made it difficult for him to find a rhythm. However, he had a 10-point third quarter that helped the Clippers clinch the win in the minutes that Benedict Mathurin was off the field.

“Business went so fast, man,” Mathurin said. “I found time to talk [Kawhi] A little bit, just to meet him after the All-Stars. Great boy! We’re trying to build that relationship as quickly as possible so we can make a deep run in the playoffs.

Mathurin started the game with 11 points in the opening period and finished his 38-point performance with 16 points in the final frame.

“It’s fun to see how happy my teammates were for me,” Mathurin said after the win. “Just winning, actually winning my second game with the team. So far, so good.”

Mathurin recorded his second straight game with double-digit free throw attempts, repeatedly displaying the ability to take contact, finish through contact and get to the free throw line.

“I think I’ve always been aggressive, just getting to the rim,” Mathurin said after the win. “That’s one of my biggest strengths. So I think, you know, just knowing when to take a shot or be aggressive is kind of the difference between those two.”

In three games so far with the Clippers, Benedict Mathurin has averaged 21 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 steals in 30 minutes per game.

The Clippers are back in action on Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Lakers inside Staples Center, the second game of a back-to-back set.

When the Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac, they made it clear that they were rebuilding rather than completely rebuilding. Steve Ballmer invested nearly $2 billion in Intuit Dome, so he might not want to hit the reset button. Instead, the organization has added youth to the NBA’s oldest team. Newcomer Benedict Mathurin thrilled the crowd in LA’s first home game since the aforementioned trades, making history in a 115–114 win against the Denver Nuggets.

The former Indiana Pacers wing, who was included in the Zubac deal, scored a game-high 38 points in 34 minutes off the bench, while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and recording five rebounds, four assists and three steals. According to ClutchPoints reporter Tomer Azarli, he set a new scoring record for a Clippers player debuting on his home field and also matched a career high. That was not all.

Appropriately, Mathurin passed Jamal Crawford for most points by a reserve in his LA debut. This squad has a new offensive spark plug, and he is only 23 years old. After making an impressive debut against the Houston Rockets last Wednesday, the young Canadian won over Clippers fans by outclassing several competitors, including Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray.

Benedict Mathurin will be a restricted free agent this summer, but it stands to reason Los Angeles will want to lock him up for the foreseeable future. Tyronn Lue’s team is now just one game below .500, and Darius Garland still isn’t in tune. Although it’s not what City had envisioned, there is certainly excitement in the air after this hard-fought victory.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Indiana Pacers traded Benedict Mathurin to the LA Clippers at the NBA trade deadline in a package including Isaiah Jackson and some first round picks. In return, the Pacers got Ivica Zubac, a player they had been courting since the surprise departure of Myles Turner in free agency.

It was a high price to pay – other than draft compensation – for a Pacers team that drafted Mathurin sixth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and saw his scoring ability on display on the night. As an athletic, three-level scorer, Mathurin should be able to fit seamlessly into a Clippers team that desperately needs his scoring punch.

“It’s been pretty good so far,” Benedict Mathurin said after his second practice with the LA Clippers on Wednesday afternoon. “You know, I think we have great guys on our team. Everyone is pretty familiar with my game. So that helps a lot. I think there’s still a lot to do and a lot to learn with the system offensively, defensively and especially off the court.”

Benedict Mathurin on practicing and fitting in with his new Clippers teammates:

“It’s been great so far. I think we have great people on our team. Everyone is pretty familiar with my game. So that helps a lot. I think there’s still a lot left to do and there’s still… pic.twitter.com/tFGIPdwUno

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 19 February 2026

As great as Mathurin has been in his young career, he struggled to get consistent playing time at Indiana. Whether it was due to Rick Carlisle’s system or simply the need for more catch-and-shoot abilities around Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, Mathurin saw his minutes fluctuate in his last season with the Pacers.

Mathurin played less than 15 minutes in nine of the Pacers’ 23 playoff games last season and logged 30 minutes in a game only once during the entire season. Now that he has transferred to a new team with a greater need for his scoring abilities, playing time is not something he thinks will be an issue.

“I think it’s just about me being myself,” Ben Mathurin said. “I feel like Ty Lue is going to give me an opportunity to really go out there and play my game without any restrictions. So, I think this will be the biggest, biggest jump for me, especially playing with great players like Kawhi and [Darius Garland] And the rest of the team, which will allow me to go even shorter.”

Coming out of college, Benedict Mathurin was known as a fast-paced, athletic scorer and, at 6 feet 5 inches tall, he had the potential to be a good defender. That end of the floor is something Mathurin is looking to prove he can do at a high level.

“I would just say my aggression. I feel like [there are some] Wrong stories about me, that I can’t play defense. But people, people who need to know that I play defense, know that I play defense. So, just going out there and doing my thing on that end of the floor and just being there for my teammates.

The past two weeks for Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson included being traded from Indianapolis to Los Angeles, flying to L.A. to get physicals, meeting with the team in Minneapolis, but not debuting until the team got to Houston for back-to-back sets. Mathurin and Jackson then got an All-Star break to collect themselves before heading back to Los Angeles for practice on Tuesday and Wednesday before back-to-back sets on Thursday and Friday.

What Benedict Mathurin wants to prove with the Clippers:

“I think just doing it on a nightly basis, just coming to work every day. I think the ability to be here consistently is definitely more realistic, in terms of the role, coming into a new setting. And… pic.twitter.com/pvfsplSoe9

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 19 February 2026

“It’s been a lot, man. Like you said, the last two weeks have been business. It’s been an All-Star break, and then coming back here. So, very, very grateful to really get going for the second half of the season.

“There’s no challenge [with the trade]Man. Like I said, I’m very grateful to come to the NBA and play, so now it’s just about what I can do to go out there and just be the player I want to be and the team the team needs me to win, so it’s just about living and learning.

In 239 career regular season games, Benedict Mathurin has averaged 16.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the field. Mathurin was having a career season with the Indiana Pacers before the trade, averaging career highs in points (17.8), rebounds (5.4), and assists (2.3).

The LA Clippers will begin their post-NBA All-Star break schedule with back-to-back sets against the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers. Benedict Mathurin’s new team won’t leave the state of California for two weeks, with five home games and the only road game at the Lakers and Warriors.