Mathurin tossed for sparking Cavs-Pacers fracas

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers defender Bennedict Mathurin was ejected successful the archetypal 4th of Sunday's Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers aft being fixed a flagrant foul 2 for extending a closed fist toward the midsection of Cavs guardant De'Andre Hunter.

Hunter shoved Mathurin to the level successful response, which prompted Pacers halfway Myles Turner to propulsion Hunter. Both Hunter and Turner were issued method fouls.

But pursuing an authoritative review, Mathurin was fixed a much terrible punishment for starting the incidental with his punch to Hunter to make abstraction arsenic the Pacers inbounded the ball. Hunter began waving his digit arsenic helium walked up to Mathurin connected the tribunal and past shoved him successful the chest.

Mathurin played 1 infinitesimal and did not score.

Cavs manager Kenny Atkinson had taken enactment of what helium called an excessive foul successful Game 1 of the bid erstwhile Mathurin's artifact connected Hunter's layup astatine the rim resulted successful Hunter spraining his close thumb, which kept him retired of Game 2.

The Pacers built a 38-23 first-quarter lead.