There was something beautiful, even inspiring, in watching Bennedict Mathurin and Luguentz Dort place themselves in front of each other for a jump ball in the closing seconds of the second quarter between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
The two Quebecers, good friends moreover, faced each other for the second time this season, but the image was no less strong. They are young, they are from Montreal, and they are both key elements of their respective teams…
In the last meeting between the two teams, in January, Oklahoma City had the upper hand by 20 points; the two Montrealers had also exchanged their shirts after the meeting. Now the Pacers and Mathurin took their revenge in front of their fans on Friday, despite the absence of Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner. They prevailed 121-117, depriving their opponents of two precious points in the race for the playoffs.
Mathurin, already an important offensive ingredient of the Pacers, has also often faced the imposing Dort, defensive treasure of the Thunder, in one against one.
Certainly determined to avenge his people, Mathurin nevertheless quickly made his presence felt offensively by scoring 10 points in the first two quarters. In 19:14, he had 80% of his shot attempts and three rebounds as the Pacers led 65-61.
Dort, more discreet offensively early in the game, scored 8 points in the third quarter alone. On the other side of the field, he was solid throughout the game, collecting 7 defensive rebounds and limiting Mathurin to only 5 other points for a total of 15. The young star of the Pacers was nevertheless at the origin of a superb defensive game at the very end of the match, preventing the Thunder from equalizing in the last seconds.
Beyond the result, this confrontation was above all a new reminder to young Quebec basketball players that anything is possible: the dream of the NBA is indeed accessible. Mathurin and Dort, aged 20 and 23 respectively, are proof of this.
Mathurin was playing his first season in the NBA this year. The first-round pick in the last draft did not disappoint. From his first games, he took advantage of the confidence given to him by his coach Rick Carlisle to show his natural ability to rush to the basket. In his seventh game, he scored 32 points in a Pacers win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The young man exudes confidence, and it shows every time he steps on the pitch. “I always thought I was going to come here and I’m not surprised to be here,” he told La Presse after his very first game in the NBA in October. I worked for it and I want to make sure I stay as long as possible. »
The young player’s offensive production varied from game to game; he still averaged 16.6 points per game, which ranks second among league rookies. He also maintained an 82.5% free throw percentage (340 in 412 attempts!). That’s not to mention the record he broke on Wednesday: he became the rookie with most three-pointers in Pacers history. His impact within the team will be great, and for a long time.
Never drafted, the No. 5 has seen his defensive role solidify this season, as the Thunder’s rebuilding efforts have already begun to bear fruit. Dort was therefore less productive offensively; it is his defensive game which, thanks in particular to his physique and his quick footwork, makes him a must in Oklahoma City for the coming seasons.
While the Pacers can no longer dream of a playoff spot, the Thunder are still in the hunt for a play-in tournament.