An 82-game season is full of surprises. The NBA tends to get wonky while March Madness ensues in the NCAA. Monday's Indiana Pacers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves matchup rivaled a March Madness game. Despite arriving at the Target Center short-handed on Monday, the Indiana Pacers upset the Minnesota Timberwolves fans with a 132-130 overtime victory.
Following the game, Pacers' high-flyer Obi Toppin sounded off in the locker room.
Although not the most vocal member of the Pacers, Toppin has a beastly ferocity to slam dunks at a moment's notice. However, Monday's game at the Target Center required significantly more from the Pacers' backup forward. Without their three focal players, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, the Pacers were between a rock and a hard place.
Against a Minnesota franchise they haven't beaten since Apr. 7, 2021, the Pacers needed someone to step up. Otherwise, they could have slipped further in the Eastern Conference standings, as the sixth-seed Detroit Pistons handily beat the New Orleans Pelicans on the same night.
As he does when soaring through the sky for an alley-oop finish, Toppin seized the moment with seismic authority.
Toppin led the Pacers with 34 points on a career-high 7 for 10 mark from 3. In addition to his seven triples, Toppin grabbed 10 rebounds, accumulated one steal, and blocked one shot. The Pacers' big's hands were all over the ball.
Related: How Did Short-Handed Pacers Beat Surging T-Wolves?
Following the victory and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle's speech to the team, Toppin stepped up, as he did during the game, and expressed his feelings about the win.
"It was next man up... We knew we had a couple of guys out. Everybody put 110 in to get this win today," Toppin said. "Good (expletive), everybody."
Despite not being the vocal leader throughout the season, Toppin arose to the occasion as he did on the court Monday evening. The Pacers may have lacked in star power vs. the Timberwolves, but they had more than enough leadership to steal a win in Minnesota.
Related: Pacers' Myles Turner Drives Team to Playoff Contention with Key Insights
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This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 10:12 AM.