Bennedict

Mathurin

Mathurin started the season by scoring at least 20 points in five straight games. He followed that up with 14 and 15 points on sub-40 percent shooting over Indiana’s previous two games before getting back on track in this one. Mathurin had high expectations entering this season with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) sidelined, and he should be able to supply plenty of buckets for the remainder of the year.

After scoring at least 21 points in his first three games back from injury, Mathurin’s production has slowed down over the last two. Against the Pistons and Raptors, he totaled 29 points on 8-of-28 shooting from the field. While most players would be able to point to three-point shooting as the reason for their woes, that has not been the case for Mathurin, who has gone 3-of-15 (20 percent) from two over this two-game stretch. However, Friday’s game against the Wizards could be the slump-buster for Mathurin, given Washington’s poor defense.

Mathurin returned from a toe injury on Monday against the Pistons and had 25 points in 25 minutes while on a minutes restriction. The 23-year-old small forward scored 24 points in 34 minutes against the Hornets on Wednesday, signaling that he can handle more minutes. It’s just two games, but Mathurin has scored 49 points and grabbed 15 rebounds already this week. After averaging 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last year, he could be in for a breakout season.

Mathurin is back and will make his first appearance since October 25, as he returns from a foot injury. As a result, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl will head back to the bench. The other change is Jackson, who replaces Tony Bradley in the starting five. Mathurin’s minutes will likely be limited, but he’s worth rostering given the Pacers’ lack of consistent scorers.

Mathurin is set to make his return from a toe injury against the Pistons on Monday. The 23-year-old shooting guard participated in a simulated game over the weekend. His return is huge for the Pacers, who’ve been dealt a brutal hand of injuries to start the season. It’s unclear if Mathurin will be on a minutes limit in his first game back.

Mathurin is said to be getting close to returning from his toe injury. His questionable listing for Monday’s game with the Pistons is a step in the right direction even if he’s ultimately ruled out. Mathurin’s return will likely happen at some point in the Pacers’ next few games.

Mathurin participated in a simulated game Saturday morning. He injured his toe during the second game of the season and hasn’t played since. His return would be a welcome one for the Pacers due to the mountain of injuries that continue to pile up.

On October 28, the Pacers referred to Mathurin as week-to-week. He still has not returned with what the injury report calls a “right great toe sprain.” We’ve seen Mathurin shooting in pre-game warmups, so it’s possible that he’s getting close to a return, but the Pacers have yet to provide any sort of timeline.

Mathurin’s lasting injury is another big blow for the Pacers, as he was the team’s leading scorer before getting sidelined. For as long as he’s out, Pascal Siakam will shoulder a heavy load on offense, while Ben Sheppard and RayJ Dennis should see additional playing time.

Injured during Saturday’s loss to the Pacers, Mathurin is wearing a walking boot on his right foot. Once the imaging is done, the Pacers will better understand what steps to take in his recovery. Injuries on the perimeter have decimated Indiana, so they’ll have to rely heavily on Ben Sheppard, RayJ Dennis and forward Pascal Siakam to handle more playmaking responsibilities.