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Is Bennedict Mathurin Playing? Bucks vs Pacers Injury Report

Will Indiana sixth man Bennedict Mathurin suit up against Milwaukee?
Apr 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball while Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) defends during game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Apr 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots the ball while Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) defends during game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

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Will Indiana Pacers sixth man guard Bennedict Mathurin suit up for a pivotal Sunday Game 4 tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks?

According to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, the third-year swingman had been questionable to play through an abdominal contusion, suffered while trying to keep up with nine-time All-Star Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on a drive during Milwaukee's eventual 117-101 Game 3 victory.

With the win, the Bucks got on the board, improving the series record to 2-1 in favor of the higher-seeded Pacers.

On Sunday, Milwaukee has a chance to fully even things out.

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Mathurin, still just 22, had been a critical contributor to the Pacers' 50-win regular season. With starting wings Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith both missing significant time due to health issues, the 6-foot-6 Arizona product managed earned starts in 49 of his 72 available contests.

In those 72 games this year, Mathurin averaged 16.1 points while slashing .458/.340/.831 shooting splits, 5.3 rebounds, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.7 steals a night.

Carlisle has limited the defensively-challenged Mathurin's minutes during the playoffs so far. They have nosedived, from 29.8 in the regular season to 18.7 in the postseason.

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In the first three games of this series, Mathurin is averaging 12.0 points on .400/.143/1.000 shooting splits, 3.0 rebounds and 0.7 assists.

Per Dopirak, Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle has revealed that Mathurin will sit out.

Mathurin being shelved likely means that Carlisle will look to young reserve wings Ben Sheppard and Jarace Walker more frequently to provide an offensive spark for the Pacers.

Sheppard, 23, got his first run of the playoffs in Game 3. He suited up for 15 minutes, scoring five points on 2-of-5 shooting from the field (1-of-4 from distance) and grabbing two rebounds.

Walker, 21, has played sparingly in all three playoff games, averaging 2.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per.

More Milwaukee Bucks News:

Bucks' Doc Rivers Listed Among NBA's Worst Coaches in Player Poll

Wild Trade Proposal Has Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo Landing With Warriors

How Bobby Portis Can Replace Damian Lillard in Bucks Lineup

Nuggets’ Michael Malone Firing Has Instant Impact on Doc Rivers’ Bucks Future

For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.


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Alex Kirschenbaum
ALEX KIRSCHENBAUM

Currently also a scribe for Newsweek, Hoops Rumors, The Sporting News and "Gremlins" director Joe Dante's film site Trailers From Hell, Alex is an alum of Men's Journal, Grizzlies fan site Grizzly Bear Blues, and Bulls fan sites Blog-A-Bull and Pippen Ain't Easy, among others.