Pacers lose at Clippers behind efficient Bennedict Mathurin in first game vs former team

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin (9) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers center Jay Huff (32) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Derrick Jones Jr. (5) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers center Micah Potter (11) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue at a press conference at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Best photos of Pacers vs. Clippers in NBA action Wedenesday

Mar 4, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle at a press conference at the Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and Bennedict Mathurin had 23 in his first game against his old team to lead the Clippers to a 130-107 win over the Pacers on Wednesday night at Intuit Dome.

The Pacers fell to 15-47 with their seventh straight loss and and sit alone at last place in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers improved to 30-31 and are in ninth in the West, one back of the Warriors for eighth.

Brook Lopez added 17 points for the Clippers. Darius Garland and Derrick Jones had 12 each. All-Star forward Pascal Siakam scored xx points to lead the Pacers. Center Jay Huff added 18 points. Forward Jarace Walker had 17.

Here are three observations.

Bennedict Mathurin goes for 23 in first game against old team

Bennedict Mathurin was clearly motivated in his first game against the Pacers since he was traded to Los Angeles on Feb. 5 for the deal that brought Ivica Zubac to the Pacers. His performance not only showed off his aggression in getting to the rim off the dribble, but also some of the off-ball work and passing that he dramatically improved in his time with the Pacers. He was every bit the efficient player Rick Carlisle spent years trying to build.

Mathurin scored 23 points on 8 of 11 shooting, hitting his last 3-pointer after missing his first two. He hit two pull-up jumpers just outside the paint along with the 3 but everything else was in the lane and most of the buckets were around the rim. He had one dunk in which he threw much of his arm in the rim and another on which he beat Aaron Nesmith on a backcut. He also made sharp reads as a passer with four assists and grabbed eight rebounds. The Clippers were +32 in his 22 minutes on the floor.

In addition, center Isaiah Jackson — who had appeared in just three games with the Clippers since the trade — had to play extensive minutes thanks to an injury to Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Jackson finished with 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting to go with four rebounds and three blocks.

Pascal Siakam scores 29 in return from injury

Pacers All-Star forward Pascal Siakam played in his first game since suffering a left wrist sprain on Feb. 22, and he was right back to All-Star caliber scoring.

The four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA pick was by far the Pacers’ most effective offensive weapon as usual, slidiing into the paint for good looks at the rim and in the mid-range. He scored 29 points on 8 of 14 shooting including 1 of 3 from 3-point range and was particularly effective at the line where he’s sometimes struggled. He made 12 of 14 foul shots.

Siakam also finished with five rebounds and an assists.

Kawhi Leonard dominant in blowout

One of the big upsides for Bennedict Mathurin in the trade to Clippers is his opportunity to work with an all-time great perimeter scorer in Kawhi Leonard, and Leonard very much looked the part on Wednesday.

Leonard scored 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting including 2 of 3 from 3-point range in the first quarter alone, setting off a Clippers offense that scored 42 first-quarter points including a remarkable 30 in the paint. The Clippers dialed it down some and allowed the Pacers to cut a 20-point deficit down to six points in the third quarter, but Leonard continued to make shots to make it impossible for the Pacers to come back. He scored nine points in a third quarter that the Clippers won 39-26, which included a 29-5 run at one point that turned the six-point deficit to a 30-point deficit.

Leonard finished with 29 points on 10 of 18 shooting including 3 of 7 from 3-point range to go with eight rebounds two assists and a steal.

Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Clippers score today, Bennedict Mathurin game stats vs old team

Pacers lose at Clippers behind efficient Bennedict Mathurin in first game vs former team

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