With a Bennedict Mathurin looking revived, the Indiana Pacers amassed their highest point total of the 2022-23 season in a 135-126 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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It’s not the defensive game that was highlighted in this meeting, and that’s all it took for the Quebecer to find the plateau of 20 points. Mathurin finished the game with 23 points, three rebounds and one assist.
Three other members of the Pacers had more than 20 points, including Buddy Hield, who quickly filled the basket. The 30-year-old hit the fastest three-point field goal in NBA history when he scored after just three seconds in the first quarter.
In Charlotte, the Oklahoma City Thunder were defeated 121-113 by the weak Hornets, despite the 22 points of another Quebecer, Luguentz Dort. The 23-year-old recorded more than 20 points in a game for only the second time in December.
The Hornets have won just three of their most recent 14 games.
Ja Morant manipulates the Raptors as he pleases
In Toronto, Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant finished with a career-high 17 assists in a 119-106 win over the Raptors.
This one skillfully allowed his teammates to find the bottom of the basket. Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane and Steven Adams finished the game with 25, 16 and 14 points respectively. This victory is the third consecutive of the American formation on the ground of Toronto.
This is the eighth loss in the last 10 games for Nick Nurse’s squad. Pascal Siakam tried to get his people out of this scarcity by obtaining 25 points, but it was not enough. His teammates O.G Anunoby and Scottie Barnes finished the game with 16 and 14 points. As for him, Montrealer Chris Boucher ended his evening with 13 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes on the floor.
The Toronto squad will wrap up 2022 at home by hosting the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
