NBA Notes: Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin, Bulls, Jaden Ivey, Blazers

Clippers

In his home debut with the Clippers, Bennedict Mathurin wasted no time announcing himself.

Coming off the bench, Mathurin poured in 38 points in 34 minutes to lift the Clippers to a one-point win over the Nuggets, as relayed by Doug Padilla of the Associated Press. He made 12 of 22 shots from the field and 12 of 13 at the line, matching a career high.

“It’s great to have another scorer that can get you 30 points,” Kawhi Leonard said afterward. “I watched him in the Finals last year. He was doing it all year.”

The Clippers acquired Mathurin to add punch. They got it immediately.

Bulls

The Bulls had a numbers problem Thursday, and Jaden Ivey was the odd man out.

With Josh Giddey and Tre Jones returning from injuries, Ivey received his first DNP-CD, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. Assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., filling in for Billy Donovan, called it “strictly a basketball decision.”

The rotation leaned toward veterans, including Anfernee Simons and Collin Sexton, despite Chicago’s trade-deadline pivot suggesting a youth movement.

Ivey later referenced lingering knee soreness and acknowledged he is not the same player physically. Whether this was a one-night decision or something more bears watching.

Blazers

The Trail Blazers promoted Sidy Cissoko to a standard contract and waived Rayan Rupert, the team announced.

Cissoko reached the 50-game limit on his two-way deal and has become a regular part of the rotation, starting 24 games and providing steady wing defense.

Rupert, still just 21, will be eligible for a two-way deal if he clears waivers.