Bill Simmons Predicts Benedict Mathurin’s NBA Finals Stats: “27 Points In 22 Minutes”

Bill Simmons, an NBA analyst, made an accurate prediction about Benedict Mathurin, days before his Game 3 masterclass for the Pacers.

Bennedict Mathurin was the deciding factor in the Pacers’ Game 3 victory. He scored 27 points in 22 minutes to lead all scorers in a 116-107 victory over the Thunder at Indiana’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Mathurin’s performance off the bench for the Pacers surprised many. However, NBA analyst Bill Simmons had a suspicion that he was about to pull off something similar following the Pacers’ Game 1 victory. Not exactly, but he accurately predicted his performance in Game 3 days before it occurred.

“I felt Mathurin looked athletically comfortable in this game, and I’m curious about what his upside is for them, because OKC is so fast and athletic, and they’re moving at warp speed. And I just thought he appeared at ease in the pandemonium, which makes me wonder whether we’ll hear from him in this series. Simmons remarked after Game 1 that Mathurin is going to have one of those games where he scores 27 points in 22 minutes.

Mathurin gives the Pacers a distinct advantage from their bench. He is so confident in his ability that he challenged LeBron James when he first entered the NBA as a rookie. He and T.J. McConnell supplied the spark from the Pacers’ bench that helped them over the finish line in Game 3. Mathurin scored 27 points on 9 of 12 from the field, including two of three from beyond the arc.

Mathurin joins the elite list alongside LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kawhi Leonard.
Following this outstanding performance off the bench, Mathurin became one of only five players this century to score 25 or more points in an NBA Finals game before or at the age of 22. Other players on this list include LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kawhi Leonard, and Tony Parker.

Mathurin has set his sights on LeBron James since the beginning of his NBA career. He challenged James on his rookie season’s first media day.

“A lot of people say he’s great,” Mathurin remarked. “I want to see how amazing he is. I don’t believe anyone is better than me. He’ll have to prove that he’s better than me.”

Mathurin has gone a long way, from competing with one of the best players of all time to matching his achievements in the early stages of his career. Mathurin, now in his third season with the Pacers, averages 15 points per game while playing more than 25 minutes per night. He lost a few games in his second season due to surgery, but he recovered even stronger and is now an important member of this championship-contending Pacers team.

Bennedict Mathurin Gets Real About Whether LeBron James Proved He Is Better Than Him