For a rare time this season, Quebecer Bennedict Mathurin wasn’t selected as a starter for the Indiana Pacers, but that didn’t stop him from leading his team in points in Friday’s 108-99 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Used mainly by his coach in the second and fourth quarters, Mathurin excelled at the end of the game by edging several errors from his opponents. Above all, he managed his seven free-throw attempts, which he finished in just 19 minutes with 21 points.

The two teams were neck and neck all game, but the Pacers held the Blazers to 17 points in the last quarter to save with their seventh win in nine games. Five Mathurin teammates also crossed the 10-point plateau.

Sleep and the thunder strike like lightning

In Oklahoma City, the Thunder took an unassailable lead in the first 12 minutes and won 127:110 against the Washington Wizards.

The local hero scored 35 points in the first quarter, compared to just 17 for the American capital. The Wizards bettered the Thunder in the second half, but the gap could never be closed.

Montrealer Luguentz Dort had a good game with 18 points in 23 minutes and added six rebounds and four assists to his tally. His Canadian compatriot Shai Gilgeous-Alexander again led the winners with 30 points.

Another bad Toronto series

In Toronto, despite 28 points from Fred VanVleet and 27 from Gary Trent Jr., the Raptors lost their third straight game and were defeated 112-108 by the New York Knicks.

The powerful duo of the Queen City team was just overtaken by the guests. Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 and 26 points, respectively. Perhaps it was Mitchell Robinson’s contribution that made the difference, recovering an impressive 18 total rebounds.

Toronto head coach Nick Nurse is no doubt hoping this isn’t the start of another losing streak for his men. By December, the Raptors had surrendered six times in a row.