So much for Canadians being polite.
Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected from Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers after he received three technical fouls, the final one for bumping into referee Natalie Sago while arguing a foul call.
The Montreal native earned his first technical earlier in the game for “the act of doing a pull-up or chin-up” on the rim, per crew chief Zach Zarba’s pool report after the game.
Mathurin was then handed his second and third technicals consecutively for unsportsmanlike behaviour toward a game official after he was correctly called for a foul on Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley by Sago in the fourth quarter.
The Canadian in him came through in the end, however, as Mathurin said he made sure to make things right with Sago after the game.
“I went to see Natalie and everything, and everything’s alright,” Mathurin told reporters post-game. “Went to apologize for the unfortunate situation. We were able to end on good terms. I wish her to have a great night. The next time we meet it’s all friendly.”
Mathurin finished the game with 19 points in 31 minutes as the Pacers saw their six-game win streak snapped by the NBA-leading Cavaliers.
In 40 games for the Pacers this season, Mathurin is averaging 16.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
