In a dramatic turn of events during Game 4 of the NBA playoffs, Indiana Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter after committing a flagrant foul 2 against Cleveland Cavaliers' De'Andre Hunter. The incident occurred when Mathurin struck Hunter in the midsection with a closed fist, leading to an immediate reaction from Hunter who shoved Mathurin to the floor.

This altercation quickly escalated as Pacers' center Myles Turner intervened by pushing Hunter, resulting in technical fouls for both Hunter and Turner. After a thorough review by officials, Mathurin was handed a more severe penalty for initiating the scuffle with his punch, which was aimed at creating space during an inbound play.

Mathurin's ejection came after he played just one minute without scoring, a stark contrast to his previous impactful plays in the series. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson had previously criticized Mathurin for an excessive foul in Game 1 that led to Hunter spraining his right thumb, sidelining him for Game 2.

Despite the early drama, the Pacers managed to establish a strong 38-23 lead by the end of the first quarter, setting the tone for what would be a fiercely contested playoff game.