NBA Facing Major Backlash for Decision in Pacers-Cavaliers Game
The Indiana Pacers put the Cleveland Cavaliers on the deathbed on Sunday with a 129-109 blowout victory that was even more lopsided than the final score may suggest.
Early in the game, there was a dust-up between the two teams. Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin hit Cavs forward De'Andre Hunter in the chest, and Hunter reacted by shoving Mathurin to the ground. Pacers center Myles Turner then took a shot at Hunter in retaliation.
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Mathurin was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected as a result. It was a controversial decision, as one X user argued.
"First time in NBA history that a player has been ejected for a light, open-handed shove to an opponent's chest," the user wrote. "Mathurin's ejection should be reversed. The NBA is a joke."
Some fans seemed to agree.
"are we really defending an ejection *that was reviewed* in a game you're up 41?" one fan wrote.
"have some self respect."
"Was this from a game in the 80s?" another fan wrote.
"ejected the wrong one," wrote another fan.
"Hand CLEARLY open there," a fourth fan wrote. "Comical by the refs."
"It is so obvious the refs want the Cavs to win," a fifth fan claimed. "Keep up the pace and the Pressure pacers, make it so the refs don't matter at all."
"NBA hates the Indiana Pacers," another fan claimed.
At the time of the altercation, Indiana led 22-10. From there, its lead only grew. It was ahead 61-37 with just over three minutes to go in the first half when it scored 17 unanswered points, allowing it to take an unbelievable 80-39 advantage at halftime.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends during game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs.Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
To make matters worse for the Cavs, Donovan Mitchell, their best player, missed the second half due to an injured ankle. Per head coach Kenny Atkinson, Mitchell will have an MRI, which means his status for Game 5 back in Northeast Ohio is in doubt.
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The Pacers now lead the series three games to one over a team that went 64-18 in the regular season and often looked nearly unbeatable.
Related: Donovan Mitchell Turns Heads With Comments on Cavaliers-Pacers Series
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