No Haliburton? Turner? Siakam?
No problem. In a game that felt eerily reminiscent of Tyrese Haliburton’s recent valiant efforts, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a stunning 132-130 overtime victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 17 at the Target Center.
With Haliburton sidelined due to back soreness, Obi Toppin stepped into the spotlight, draining a game-winning, fading corner three-pointer with just 3.5 seconds left in overtime.
The shot mirrored Haliburton’s clutch dagger against the Milwaukee Bucks last week, proving once again that basketball has a way of delivering poetic moments.
“I seen (Jaden) McDaniels and (Julius) Randle both go down, and I said, ‘I have to shoot this, I am feeling good,'” Toppin said after the game in the locker room. “I didn’t feel like I had to be the one to score. We have great guys on this team, and we go out there and do our job the best we can. Everybody on this team is a very good NBA player.”
The Pacers, playing without several key starters, relied heavily on their depth and resilience. Toppin led the charge with 34 points, including 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc.
Bennedict Mathurin added 22 points.
The veteran floor general, T.J. McConnell, orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 13 assists, including the game-winning pass to Toppin.
The game was a rollercoaster from start to finish, featuring 29 lead changes and 19 ties.
Obi Toppin on Media Day with the Pacers.
Paces forward Obi Toppin (1) during Pacers Media Day on September 30, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
The Pacers built a 15-point lead in the second quarter.
However, the Timberwolves clawed back behind Anthony Edwards, who finished with 38 points, and Naz Reid, who contributed 21 points off the bench.
Minnesota’s third-quarter surge, outscoring Indiana 41-29, set the stage for a dramatic finish.
The intensity reached a boiling point late in the third quarter when Rudy Gobert and Andrew Nembhard were ejected following a scuffle. After a hard foul by Gobert, Nembhard taunted the Timberwolves’ center, leading to a heated exchange and both players being sent to the locker room.
The incident left both teams shorthanded, but the Pacers’ bench rose to the occasion.
In overtime, the Timberwolves briefly took control, but Toppin’s leadership on offense sealed the win.
His game-winner capped off a night where he shot 12-of-19 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds, showcasing his versatility and clutch gene.
The Pacers’ victory was even more impressive considering their injury woes. Alongside Haliburton, the team was without Myles Turner (left hip contusion), Aaron Nesmith (left ankle injury management) and Pascal Siakam (personal).
Indiana’s depth was on full display, with contributions from players like Tony Bradley (12 points, nine rebounds) and Quenton Jackson (13 points).
The Pacers’ ability to win with a patchwork lineup speaks volumes about their resilience and adaptability.
And Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle knew it.
“What a game, I am so proud of the guys,” Carlisle said. “Unusual set of circumstances and an opportunity for guys that may have not gotten a huge opportunity to play against one of the hottest teams in the world.”
Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers on May 17, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 17, 2024 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, IN. (Photo/Walt Thomas)
For the Timberwolves, Edwards’ brilliance wasn’t enough to overcome their defensive lapses in critical moments. Minnesota couldn’t contain Toppin and McConnell down the stretch despite outscoring the Pacers in the paint (60-52) and fast-break points (21-18).
The Pacers improved to 39-29 with the win, while the Timberwolves fell to 40-31.
The Pacers getting a dramatic win on 317 Day while being down key players feels like the stuff you find in fiction.
The next game for the Pacers is against the shorthanded Dallas Mavericks, slated for Match 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more Indiana Pacers news, click here
Senior Sports Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Noral Parham III.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.