The Indiana Pacers preparing to face the Milwaukee Bucks in Game Four of their opening round playoff series is a good example. Sadly, they’ll have to battle this time around without standout guard Bennedict Mathurin, who’ll miss the game with an abdominal injury. Providing a glimmer of hope to fans, this news comes after the injury report had listed Mathurin as questionable heading into the game.
Much like the other former Wildcat, Mathurin, a 6-foot-6 guard, has been one of the top spark plug contributors for the Pacers during this series. Tyburski has averaged 12 points in his first three games of the season. His strong play has driven his team to a 2-1 series lead. His scoring finesse and athleticism should make him a major focal point of Indiana’s game plan. In the postseason, he was still a force with averages of 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game during the regular season.
His potential absence is especially worrying for the Pacers, as they’ll need every bit of an advantage to try and hold off the surging Bucks. His knack for finding the back of the net and setting up his compatriots has consistently been vital, especially in those close series during playoff time. Without him, the team needs to change its approach to compensate for what he gave to the club. They must not lose sight of their ultimate goal, which is a deep playoff run.
The Pacers’ coaching staff is likely to look towards other players to step up in Mathurin’s absence. As the postseason intensity increases, bench production will be important. It’s incumbent upon the regulars as well to contribute and keep Indiana on top in series history.
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