The NBA has announced the suspension of Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin for one game without pay due to inappropriate conduct towards officiating staff. This decision follows Mathurin's actions during the Pacers' 127-117 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he reportedly made inappropriate contact with a game official and verbally abused them.

Mathurin's suspension will see him sit out Thursday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons. During the game against the Cavaliers, he was ejected after receiving an unusual three technical fouls, a rare occurrence in the league. The incident that led to his ejection occurred in the fourth quarter when Mathurin was called for a foul on Evan Mobley. His reaction included clapping in the face of referee Natalie Sago and making physical contact with her as he voiced his complaints about the call. His actions resulted in two technical fouls, bringing his total to three for the game, which culminated in his ejection. Prior to this incident, Mathurin had already been assessed a technical foul for hanging on the rim after executing a dunk earlier in the contest.

Despite the ejection and disciplinary actions, Mathurin had a noteworthy performance on the court, contributing 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, shooting 66.7% from the field, including 50% from beyond the arc. Although it was not enough to secure victory against the Cavaliers, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference standings, Mathurin's performance showcased his potential. He is expected to return to the lineup for the Pacers in their upcoming game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.