In a heated Game 4, Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter for a flagrant 2 foul against Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter. Following the incident, Hunter approached Mathurin aggressively, leading to a defensive reaction from Myles Turner, who charged at Hunter. Both Turner and Hunter received technical fouls amid the escalating tensions. Mathurin's ejection came shortly after he entered the game, contributing minimally with only one rebound.

Despite his prior postseason success, including a key role in winning Games 1 and 2 and a 23-point outing in Game 3, Mathurin's absence left a void. Meanwhile, Hunter returned after missing the initial games of the series due to injury, contributing five points in limited minutes. The Cavaliers struggled offensively, with Donovan Mitchell being the only player to reach double-digit points, raising concerns about their postseason viability amid a looming 3-1 series deficit.