Free throw errors occur frequently at critical moments, Pacers need to be cautious when using the Rising Star Wing

In the fourth game of the recent NBA Finals, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers who played at home 111-104, tying the total score of the series to 2-2. This result has brought both sides back to the same starting line, and the next battle of Tianwang Mountain will be launched in Oklahoma City, which will have a significant impact on the direction of the series.

In this game, the Pacers' substitute wing star Benedict Mathering's performance was not satisfactory. Mathering spent 13 minutes and 53 seconds on the court, shooting percentage was only 50%, scoring 8 points and 2 rebounds in the game, and had 1 turnover and 2 fouls, with a plus-minus value of -5. Although he contributed a certain score on the offensive end, his free throw performance was extremely bad at the critical moment when the game decided on the winner. He made only 1 of 4 free throws and finally only scored 1 point. He also made two fouls. It can be said that Matherin's series of mistakes almost gave up the victory to his opponent.

Looking at the whole season, although Mathering's performance in the regular season is remarkable, he played 72 times in 82 games, and averaged 29.8 minutes of playing time, achieving 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. However, in the first 20 games of the playoffs, his form declined, averaging only 11.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, although his shooting percentage remained at 50.4%. But this is not enough to cover up his mediocre performance in many games, especially his limited shooting choices and defensive contributions at critical moments, which seriously affected the team's overall tactics.

It is worth mentioning that in the third game, Matherin showed an amazing competitive state, helping the team win with a highlight of 27 points. However, nowadays, he doesn't seem to be able to convey this energy continuously in every game. In the upcoming decisive game, the Pacers may need to use the young star more carefully to ensure they can make smarter decisions and performances at critical moments.