Luka Doncic Breaks Down Trash Talk With Bennedict Mathurin

Luka Doncic recently broke down his trash talk with Bennedict Mathurin during the Dallas Mavericks vs. Indiana Pacers game. Doncic, 25, is a Slovenian Point Guard for the Mavericks, while Mathurin, 22, is a Canadian Shooting Guard for the Pacers. Doncic’s late-game interaction with Mathurin sparked mixed reactions on social media.

Doncic finished the game with 34 points, despite shooting 9-of-24 from the field. He converted on 12 of his 15 free throw attempts, which helped him improve the Mavericks’ box score. He added seven rebounds, 15 assists, and two steals in the 134-127 loss to the Pacers. So, plenty have been pondering the primary reason behind Doncic’s interaction with Mathurin. Read on for the latest on the debatable matter.

Luka Doncic’s Breakdown

Luka Doncic’s postgame breakdown of his late-game interaction with Ben Mathurin was quite straightforward. Doncic explained to the media, “He started talking sh*t, one minute to go. You know what that’s about. I just said, you know, if you can talk sh*t, start it early. You know how I do.” Doncic’s breakdown of his interaction with Mathurin might not have been what people wanted to hear, but Doncic shared his side of the story regardless.

Meanwhile, Mathurin’s perception was far from Doncic’s. Mathurin reportedly knew the caliber of player he was matched with and was simply honored to be in a back-and-forth position with the Slovenian big man. Mathurin told the IndyStar, “It was great … It was amazing. Going out there playing against two of the best players in the world, you don’t get to live that very often. I grew up watching Kyrie Irving. I’m gonna do what I do, talk crap, and enjoy it. And we won the game so I got the last … I’m not trying to start anything, but it’s also a dream come true.”

Luka Doncic Performs Well

Luka Doncic performed well in Monday’s Dallas Mavericks vs. Indiana Pacers game. Doncic scored 34 points, despite shooting 9-of-24 from the field. He converted on 12-of-15 free throw attempts. He added seven rebounds, 15 assists, and two steals. Bennedict Mathurin wasn’t the Pacers’ leading scorer, but Mathurin’s performance was solid. Mathurin finished with 16 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting from the field while adding seven rebounds and three assists. He was a +13 in the Pacers’ box score. He has been providing a strong spark for the Pacers this season.

Doncic vs. Mathurin

The Luka Doncic and Bennedict Mathurin battle isn’t significant, as the two young players play in different conferences. Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks and Mathurin’s Indiana Pacers will meet twice this season, and the two players’ next matchup will take place on March 19, 2025.

But, in the meantime, the Pacers bounced back with a 118-111 win over the Orlando Magic at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, while the short-handed Mavericks rebounded with a 119-99 blowout of the equally short-handed Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.