Bennedict Mathurin’s Career-High 45 Points Ignite Pacers’ Playoff Push — Full Highlights & Fan Reactions

Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Clippers received a welcome boost ahead of their upcoming four-game road swing: dynamic wing Bennedict Mathurin is on track to suit up Friday night in Toronto after missing the last four contests with a right-big-toe sprain, the team confirmed Wednesday morning. Mathurin suffered the injury late in the March 30 win over Indiana and has spent the past week in a walking boot, but trainers cleared the 23-year-old for full contact work during Tuesday’s practice. According to head coach Tyronn Lue, the plan is to monitor soreness during shoot-around before giving the final green light. “He checked every box in rehab,” Lue said. “If the toe responds well tomorrow, he’s back.” The timing could hardly be better for a Clippers squad clinging to the No. 6 seed in a jam-packed Western Conference. Over the four games without him, L.A. went 1-3 and posted the league’s 24th-ranked offense, a stark drop-off from its top-10 efficiency with Mathurin on the floor. The Canadian guard’s downhill burst and 38.4 percent three-point clip have been pivotal in relieving pressure on Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who have shouldered heavy usage since the All-Star break. Mathurin is averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting a career-best 46.7 percent from the field in his first season with the Clippers after a surprise January blockbuster sent him west from Indiana. L.A. has outscored opponents by 5.6 points per 100 possessions when he shares the court with Leonard, the best two-man net rating on the roster among high-minute duos. Still, the organization is wary of rushing him back. Big-toe sprains can linger, limiting push-off explosion and elevation—two facets central to Mathurin’s rim-attacking game. “There’s always a risk of aggravation,” a team source told Sports Illustrated, adding that the medical staff has designed a specialized carbon-fiber insole to stabilize the toe during sudden stops and cuts. Expect Lue to keep Mathurin on a soft minutes cap—likely 24–26—to start the trip. Beyond the immediate playoff implications, every game matters for contract reasons. Mathurin becomes extension-eligible in July, and league insiders project his next deal to land in the four-year, $120 million range if he closes the season healthy. A strong finish would also bolster his case for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, where he currently sits third in most national betting markets. For now, the Clippers simply need their spark plug back. The upcoming slate features the Raptors, Knicks, Celtics and Heat—three top-12 defenses among them. If Mathurin returns at even 80 percent of his usual explosiveness, Los Angeles regains a transition threat, a secondary playmaker and, perhaps most critically, the emotional edge that has defined his game since draft night. Clippers fans and fantasy managers alike should keep a close eye on Thursday’s shoot-around report; barring an unexpected setback, Bennedict Mathurin’s toe-tapping return looks imminent.