Bennedict Mathurin Shows Power With Tough And-1 In Pacers’ Playoff Push
Indiana standout adds highlight to postseason as Pacers look to capitalize on 2-0 series lead
Himanshi Mahajan holds a bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Guru Nanak Dev University. She has two years of experience in writing news and SEO-based content for NBAJunction and Stylecraze. Himanshi combines her research skills with passion for writing to create practical and engaging articles.
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Image: Instagram
The Indiana Pacers are making waves in the NBA playoffs, and Bennedict Mathurin is right at the center of the action. In a recent Instagram post, the Pacers showcased one of Mathurin’s standout moments – a powerful and-1 play that had fans on their feet.
In the video shared on the team’s official Instagram account, Mathurin is seen driving to the basket with determination, absorbing contact from defenders, and still managing to finish the play while drawing a foul. The caption “count. the. basket. 🔞 @bennedict with the tough and-1 👊” perfectly captures the intensity of the moment.
Pacers Riding High In Playoff Series
The highlight comes as the Pacers look to capitalize on their current momentum in the playoffs. Indiana has taken a commanding 2-0 lead in their series against the Milwaukee Bucks, with Game 3 now shifting to Milwaukee. This puts the Pacers in a prime position to potentially go up 3-0, a nearly insurmountable lead in NBA playoff history.
In previous posts, the team announced “an opportunity to go up 3-0 in Game 3 👀” and shared their arrival in Milwaukee with the caption “we’ve arrived in Milwaukee. Game 3 awaits 💪,” highlighting the significance of this moment in their postseason journey.
Team Chemistry Fueling Playoff Success
The Pacers’ postseason surge isn’t just about individual performances but also about team chemistry. Their starting lineup for Game 3, revealed in another recent post with the caption “first five of Game 3,” shows the strategic approach the team is taking to maintain their advantage in the series.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been a major contributor to the team’s success, with the Pacers recently sharing a highlight of him hitting a shot “from WAY downtown 🌃” in one of their playoff games. His leadership on the court has been instrumental in guiding this young Pacers squad.
The Rising Star: Bennedict Mathurin
Mathurin, the 20-year-old former Arizona Wildcat, has been steadily making a name for himself since being selected 6th overall by the Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft. Known for his scoring ability and athleticism, Mathurin has become an important piece of Indiana’s rotation during his sophomore season.
The and-1 play featured in the post exemplifies what makes Mathurin special – his fearlessness when attacking the basket and ability to finish through contact. These qualities have made him a fan favorite in Indianapolis and an increasingly important player in the Pacers’ playoff rotation.
Pacers’ Rich Playoff History
The Indiana Pacers, established in 1967 as a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) before joining the NBA in 1976, have a storied playoff history. The franchise captured three ABA championships in 1970, 1972, and 1973 but are still seeking their first NBA title despite reaching the NBA Finals in 2000.
This current playoff run represents one of the team’s best opportunities in recent years to make a deep postseason push. After several rebuilding seasons, the Pacers have assembled a young, dynamic roster that has exceeded expectations this season.
Building Momentum With Veteran Additions
The team has also bolstered their roster with strategic additions, including recently welcoming T.J. Warren back to Indianapolis. In a post captioned “welcome to Indy, @t.warren44 👋,” the Pacers showed they’re strengthening their lineup for the playoff push.
Veteran center Myles Turner has also stepped up his game during this postseason run. The team highlighted his playoff performance with the caption “playoff Myles 😈” – recognizing his increased impact during the most important games of the season.
With the series now moving to Milwaukee, the Pacers are looking to maintain their momentum and potentially secure a commanding 3-0 lead. If Mathurin continues to produce highlight-worthy plays like his recent and-1, and the team maintains its cohesive approach, Indiana could be positioning themselves for their most significant playoff success in years.
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