Pacers' Obi Toppin: Season-best effort from long range
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Toppin provided 16 points (6-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt), five rebounds, two assists and three steals over 21 minutes during Sunday's 119-104 victory over the Pelicans.
The four made threes were a season high for Toppin, who continues to be a force from Indiana's second unit. The fifth-year forward has scored in double digits in seven straight games, averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 boards, 2.3 assists, 2.3 threes and 1.4 steals in 22.3 minutes a contest over that stretch while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor and 43.2 percent from beyond the arc.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Provides spark off bench in win
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Toppin ended Friday's 121-107 victory over the 76ers with 20 points (7-11 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), eight rebounds, three assists and three steals in 31 minutes.
Toppin provided a spark off the bench in small-ball lineups for the Pacers against a 76ers team that lost Joel Embiid (nose) in the first half, recording a season-high three steals and falling just one point shy of his season-high mark of 21 points set back during a Nov. 15 loss to the Heat. Toppin has been on a heater since the calendar turned to December, averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.0 three-pointers in 22.6 minutes per game through his last six outings. The 26-year-old versatile forward is worth streaming in fantasy leagues while he's running hot from the second unit, but he would likely need an injury to a member of Indiana's frontcourt in order to gain more stable playing time.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Drops 17 points in win
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Toppin finished Friday's 132-123 victory over the Bulls with 17 points (6-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, five assists and one block in 21 minutes.
After an indifferent start to the season, Toppin has found some form of late, averaging 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 three-pointers and 1.6 combined steals and blocks in 20.5 minutes per game over the past week. While the production has been above average, his playing time is actually in line with his season average, meaning this could simply be a case of Toppin going through a strong patch offensively.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Returns to game Sunday
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Toppin returned to Sunday's game against the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Toppin was hit while dunking during the third quarter and sustained a left ankle sprain. However, he's back and should be able to shoulder his normal workload the rest of the way.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Iffy to return Sunday
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Toppin is questionable to return during Sunday's game against Memphis due to a left ankle sprain.
Toppin was hit while dunking during the third quarter, though he remained in the game briefly. If the big man is unable to return for the fourth quarter, Myles Turner and Jarace Walker should pick up the slack the rest of the way.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Plays just 16 minutes
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Toppin notched seven points (3-8 FG, 1-4 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists across 16 minutes during Monday's 114-110 win over the Pelicans.
Toppin has now played 17 or fewer minutes in four straight games, as his upside continues to be capped by limited workloads. He's been particularly cold from beyond the arc this season which doesn't help his case, as he's hitting 29.6 percent of his three-pointers on 3.2 attempts per game.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Scores 19 points off bench Monday
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Toppin racked up 19 points (8-13 FG, 3-8 3Pt), two rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in 31 minutes during Monday's 130-119 loss to the Raptors.
The Pacers have been decimated by injuries in the frontcourt in recent games, but Toppin continues to play off the bench since he fits extremely well in that role. The former Dayton standout has scored in double digits six times this season, but he's posted his two best scoring outputs of the campaign in his last three games. His current season-high scoring mark is the 21-point effort he delivered in a loss to the Heat on Nov. 15. Even though Toppin is not expected to move to the starting lineup any time soon, he should enjoy an uptick in his fantasy upside as long as Indiana remains depleted in the frontcourt.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Leads Pacers in reserve role
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Toppin produced 21 points (8-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and three rebounds over 21 minutes during Friday's 124-111 loss to the Heat.
Toppin's 21 points Friday were his most of the 2024-25 regular season and the first time he eclipised the 20-point mark since April 9 against the Raptors last season. Toppin failed to reach double-digit scoring in his previous three outings, but perhaps Friday's performance will help kick start his involvement in the Pacers' offense.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Cleared for Wednesday
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Toppin (ankle) will play Wednesday versus Orlando, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Toppin will return from a one-game absence due to a left ankle sprain. Toppin is averaging 22.8 minutes per game across his last five contests, with 58.0 percent of his minutes coming at the power forward position.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Out Sunday
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Toppin (ankle) won't play Sunday against the Knicks, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Toppin will miss his first game of the season due to a left ankle sprain. Given all of the injuries in Indiana's frontcourt, Jarace Walker and Enrique Freeman are candidates for increased roles off the bench versus New York. Toppin's next chance to suit up will come Wednesday in Orlando.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Questionable to face New York
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Toppin is questionable for Sunday's game against the Knicks due to a left ankle sprain.
Toppin is a new addition to the injury report, and his potential absence would hurt the Pacers due to their lack of depth in the frontcourt. Toppin has scored in double digits in four of his nine appearances this season while averaging 20.8 minutes per game off the bench.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Scores double digits in win
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Toppin put up 11 points (5-8 FG, 1-3 3Pt), six rebounds and two assists over 24 minutes in Monday's 134-127 victory over Dallas.
Toppin has been a consistent contributor among Indiana's second unit, chipping in seven or more points in every game after the season opener. He averages 10.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks over 21.3 minutes this season, but with Aaron Nesmith (ankle) potentially out for an extended period of time, it is likely Toppin will see an increase in usage until Nesmith returns.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Posts season high in win Wednesday
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Toppin finished Wednesday's 135-132 nailbiter victory over the Celtics with 18 points (6-15 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Toppin recorded season highs in both points (18) and minutes (33), and has put up at least 14 points for a third consecutive game. Despite concerns regarding playing time in the previous contest against the Magic, Toppin was second among all bench players in minutes Wednesday night, behind only Bennedict Mathurin (43). He is averaging 11.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.4 blocks and a solid 37.5 percent mark from three to begin the season.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Leads reserves in scoring Monday
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Toppin finished Monday's 119-115 loss to the Magic with 14 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 1-2 FT) and two rebounds over 14 minutes.
Toppin led the Pacers' bench in scoring Monday, and he did most of his damage from deep. Despite his strong shooting performance, Toppin played a season-low 14 minutes and saw less playing time then fellow reserves Ben Sheppard (23) and Isaiah Jackson (22).
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Not listed on injury report
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Toppin (neck) isn't listed on the injury report for Wednesday's regular-season opener against the Pistons.
Toppin missed the Pacers' preseason finale due to a neck injury but will be good to go for the regular season. He held a consistent role during his first season in Indiana last year, averaging 10.3 points in 21.1 minutes per game across 82 regular-season appearances (28 starts).
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Won't play Thursday
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Toppin is out for Thursday's preseason game versus the Hornets due to a neck injury, Tony East of SI.com reports.
While the severity of Toppin's neck injury is uncertain, he will miss Indiana's preseason finale. Toppin's neck chance to suit up is the Pacers' regular-season opener against the Pistons on Oct. 23.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Scores eight points in start Monday
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Toppin totaled eight points (3-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-4 FT), two steals, one rebound and one assist across 17 minutes in Monday's preseason loss to the Grizzlies.
With Pascal Siakam receiving a scheduled day of rest, Toppin got the start at the four-spot Monday. The 26-year-old is expected to serve as the club's primary backup at power forward, and he could see minutes at the center position as well. Toppin is coming off a career-best year with Indiana, during which he averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 combined steals plus blocks across 21.1 minutes per game while playing in all 82 regular-season outings. The big man also shot a career-high 57.3 percent from the field in the 2023-24 campaign.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Starting Monday
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Toppin will start Monday's preseason game against the Grizzlies.
With Pascal Siakam (rest) and Aaron Nesmith (ankle) unavailable, Toppin and Jarace Walker will enter the starting lineup. Last Thursday, Toppin posted six points (2-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, three assists and a steal in 17 minutes off the bench during a win over the Cavaliers.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Set to remain in Indy
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Toppin agreed Sunday with the Pacers on a four-year, $60 million contract, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
After coming over in a trade from the Knicks last summer, Toppin proved to be a valuable contributor for Indiana as the club's top reserve big man. He appeared in all 82 games and averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.1 minutes per contest. Indiana will bring back frontcourt starters Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner in 2024-25, so Toppin's role is unlikely to change dramatically despite receiving more of a long-term financial commitment.
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Pacers' Obi Toppin: Top scorer off bench in Game 6
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Toppin posted 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block over 24 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 win over Milwaukee in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Toppin gave Indiana a much-needed lift off the bench, leading all Pacers in scoring while connecting on a team-high-tying trio of threes and ending two rebounds shy of a double-double in just under 25 minutes on the second unit. Toppin has been stellar off the bench this postseason but posted his best outing of the playoffs thus far in the series-clinching victory. Toppin concluded the first-round series by surpassing the double-digit scoring mark in four straight outings.
