NBA Notes: Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin, Pistons, Jaden Ivey, Sixers

Pacers

Another loss, another reminder that the Pacers have a long climb ahead. But at least they got Bennedict Mathurin back.

The second-year guard returned after missing 11 games with a toe sprain and erupted for 23 of his 25 points in the second half, as noted by Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.

Mathurin isn’t buying the doom-and-gloom vibe around the team.

“We’re 1-13 right now. There’s teams in the NBA that have won 10 games in a row,” he said. “Why can’t we be the team that wins 10 games in a row? … People act like it’s the end of the world.

“If we were 1-57 I’d say maybe, but it’s 1-13. We’ve played 14 games. It’s not even 15% of the season.”

Center Isaiah Jackson is right there with him.

“I think energy is everything,” Jackson said. “One guy gets going and it can give us a spark. … We’re just gonna continue to keep going.”

Pistons

Detroit sent guard Jaden Ivey to the Motor City Cruise for conditioning, the team announced.

Ivey hasn’t played since training camp knee surgery and last appeared in an NBA game on New Year’s Day, when he fractured his left fibula. He’ll be a restricted free agent this summer.

76ers

Joel Embiid remains doubtful for Wednesday’s game in Toronto as he deals with right knee injury management, per Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. He hasn’t played since Nov. 8.

Paul George is also out. The Sixers are listing it as “left knee injury recovery,” one day after George logged 21 minutes in his season debut — finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the win over the Clippers.