Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin ejected after hitting Cavs' Hunter in the chest with a closed fist

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter of Game 4 on Sunday for hitting Cleveland Cavaliers backup De'Andre Hunter in the chest with a closed fist.

Even without one of their top scorers, the Pacers tied an NBA playoff record by taking a 41-point halftime lead and rolled past the Cavaliers 129-109 to take a 3-1 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Replays showed Mathurin extending his fist into Hunter, who responded by wagging his finger at Mathurin and following him toward midcourt, where he shoved Mathurin to the ground with two hands. Pacers center Myles Turner then ran across the court and ran into Hunter.

Following a replay review, the referees called Mathurin for a flagrant 2, an automatic ejection, drawing a chorus of boos from Pacers fans. Technical fouls were given to Turner and Hunter.

“I had a lot of questions about it,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I saw one still shot where it looked he had his hand flat, you know? But they a lot of different views. Whatever happened, happened. He’ll accept the ejection and whatever else happens from it. We’ve just got to move forward.”

The Pacers can close out the series and earn their second straight appearance in the conference finals Tuesday in Cleveland, where they won the first two games.

Mathurin did not score in his 80 seconds on the court. Hunter, who missed Game 2 with an injured wrist, had five points and four rebounds while Turner made all four of his 3-point attempts and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, left, and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin, right, battle for a loose ball during the second half of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs in Indianapolis, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) falls to the court as center Myles Turner pushes Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) in the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) falls to the court as center Myles Turner pushes Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) in the first half of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)