Bennedict Mathurin to return for Indiana Pacers vs Charlotte Hornets, Chris Duarte remains out
Indiana Pacers rookie guard Bennedict Mathurin will return to the lineup tonight after missing time due to injury.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle shared the news on Monday with gathered media before his team took on the Charlotte Hornets. Hornets.com writer Sam Perley shared the news on Twitter.
Mathurin sprained his right ankle on March 9 against the Houston Rockets. He fell to the court between two defenders after driving to the basket and had to be carried off the floor. He missed the rest of that game and the next four outings for the Pacers. All in all, it was a 10-day absence for the rookie.
Without Mathurin in the lineup, the blue and gold have turned to George Hill in the guard rotation. Mathurin will not have a minutes restriction tonight, per Pacers pre and post-game host plus sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson, so Hill may lose his spot in the rotation with Mathurin back in the mix.
The rookie guard is averaging 16.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game so far this season. He has been one of the best first-year players in the association, and his production has been missed by the blue and gold.
Indiana has 11 games left this year. Mathurin had a goal of playing in all 82 games this campaign, so it will be worth monitoring his status down the stretch of this season as the Pacers push for a spot in the play-in tournament.
Carlisle also shared that second-year wing Chris Duarte, who was listed as questionable, will remain out for Pacers-Hornets. He is experiencing soreness in his left ankle and is going to miss his third-straight game. He left Indiana's battle with Detroit early one week ago.
The Pacers are 32-39 and 1.5 games out of the play-in tournament. Mathurin's return will help the team in their final push of the season.
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