{"id":498533,"date":"2026-02-23T09:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T09:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/498533\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T09:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T09:06:12","slug":"bennedict-mathurin-unravels-how-kawhi-leonard-consoled-him-after-missed-game-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/498533\/","title":{"rendered":"Bennedict Mathurin Unravels How Kawhi Leonard Consoled Him After Missed Game-Winner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday night\u2019s outing against the Orlando Magic<\/a> came to an unfortunate end for the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a>. A 111-109 loss certainly hurts, but Bennedict Mathurin<\/a>\u2018s missed game-winning shot opportunity will certainly sting even more.<\/p>\n

For obvious reasons, missing a three-pointer to win the game continues to be on Bennedict Mathurin\u2019s mind. However, while speaking with Clippers beat writer Joey Linn<\/a>, Mathurin revealed that Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard<\/a> had been consoling him, showcasing support for his new teammate.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot,\u201d Mathurin shared. \u201cIn my opinion, he\u2019s one of the greatest players to ever play the game. So to have him come show love and show support that there\u2019s many more ahead of me. For a guy who\u2019s made a lot of those shots, it was great to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

The closing seconds of the Clippers-Magic game were hectic. After a huge block by Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Los Angeles broke away in transition with an opportunity to either win it all or tie the game.<\/p>\n

A double-team on Kawhi Leonard after the dribble hand-off resulted in Mathurin having a clean look at the basket on the wing. Although Leonard swung the ball over to the Clippers\u2019 guard, his shot attempt went marginally long, bouncing out after hitting the back of the rim.<\/p>\n

BENNEDICT MATHURIN WAS SO CLOSE TO A GAME-WINNER FOR HIS NEW TEAM \ud83d\ude2f pic.twitter.com\/w146OFeyCO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Although the loss hurts, the faith shown by Leonard in Bennedict Mathurin is far more promising. Thus, despite the loss, Los Angeles may have some positive takeaways from this performance.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bennedict Mathurin Is Adjusting To A New Role<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 acquisition of Bennedict Mathurin<\/a> was a drastic shift away from the team\u2019s approach at the beginning of the campaign. While the team initially focused on bringing in reliable veterans, acquiring Mathurin and Darius Garland<\/a> via trade essentially saw L.A. pivot and focus on the future.<\/p>\n

Naturally, this also implied significant changes for Bennedict Mathurin, who was embracing a new role in the Clippers\u2019 rotation.<\/p>\n

While Mathurin has already asserted himself as a gifted young wing with tremendous two-way potential, the Clippers appear to be molding him to play the role of secondary star next to Kawhi Leonard. Having recorded a 38-point performance against the Nuggets<\/a>, the 23-year-old has also shown the capability to fill this role.<\/p>\n

During his time with the Indiana Pacers<\/a> this season, Mathurin averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. In just four games with the Los Angeles Clippers, he is averaging 22.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.<\/p>\n

Although the sample size is small, the uptick in his scoring production may suggest what he could bring to the table. Thus, even though Kawhi Leonard doesn\u2019t have much faith in the Clippers\u2019 chances this season<\/a>, with his future with the franchise also being brought into question<\/a>, developing Mathurin into a star may prove to be quite worthwhile for L.A.<\/p>\n