Bennedict Mathurin

Mathurin started the season by scoring at least 20 points in five straight games. He followed that up with 14 and 15 points on sub-40 percent shooting over Indiana's previous two games before getting back on track in this one. Mathurin had high expectations entering this season with Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) sidelined, and he should be able to supply plenty of buckets for the remainder of the year.

Sheppard and Huff will enter the starting unit in place of Andrew Nembhard (quad) and Isaiah Jackson. Sheppard will get the nod instead of T.J. McConnell, though McConnell should still see a bump in minutes. Huff will replace Jackson as the starting center, though both should continue to split the minutes down low.

After scoring at least 21 points in his first three games back from injury, Mathurin's production has slowed down over the last two. Against the Pistons and Raptors, he totaled 29 points on 8-of-28 shooting from the field. While most players would be able to point to three-point shooting as the reason for their woes, that has not been the case for Mathurin, who has gone 3-of-15 (20 percent) from two over this two-game stretch. However, Friday's game against the Wizards could be the slump-buster for Mathurin, given Washington's poor defense.

Mathurin amassed 24 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 8-9 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists and one steal across 34 minutes in Wednesday's 127-119 win over the Hornets.

Mathurin returned from a toe injury on Monday against the Pistons and had 25 points in 25 minutes while on a minutes restriction. The 23-year-old small forward scored 24 points in 34 minutes against the Hornets on Wednesday, signaling that he can handle more minutes. It's just two games, but Mathurin has scored 49 points and grabbed 15 rebounds already this week. After averaging 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last year, he could be in for a breakout season.