Obi Toppin gave the Indiana Pacers exactly the kind of lift they needed in a 123-120 road win over the New Orleans Pelicans to open the season.
Indiana’s starters did plenty of the heavy lifting, but Toppin’s work off the bench ended up mattering just as much. The Pacers were already dealing with a thinner second unit after Aaron Nesmith and T.J. McConnell were both sidelined with hamstring injuries, and foul trouble in the first half only made the rotation more awkward.
That led to some rough lineup combinations. At the start of the second quarter, Coach Carlisle went with Larry Nance Jr. for Toppin alongside Tyrese Haliburton, Quenton Jackson, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Pascal Siakam. That group struggled badly and posted a -133.3 net rating in just 2 minutes of play.
When Oubre and Siakam each picked up quick second fouls, Carlisle turned to Toppin and Jarace Walker. That five-man group carried a -80 net rating and looked completely unfamiliar with one another, which made sense because they had never shared the floor together before. After 5 minutes and 14 seconds, Indiana finally replaced Nance with Zubac after being outscored by 11 points during his minutes on the night.
In the second half, Toppin became Indiana’s lone backup center, and he showed why he is the best option behind Zubac even without the usual center-sized build. His value goes well beyond that spot, though. The Pacers used him at power forward, center and even as the three next to Siakam and Zubac.
That versatility mattered because Indiana’s wing group of Ben Sheppard, Walker and Oubre never produced at a high level. With the game on the line, the Pacers even used Toppin at small forward. He was also their top perimeter threat, hitting 4 of 9 from three, and he knows the offense well enough to keep the machine moving.
As Indiana works new pieces like Nance, Oubre and Zubac into the mix, Toppin’s familiarity and chemistry are giving the team a valuable early-season anchor. His athleticism, plus his off-ball movement and shooting ability, makes him hard to ignore. The attention the Pacers’ stars draw only creates more openings for him to attack.
Toppin finished with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting in 24 minutes. He still needs to be more of a factor on the glass, but his offensive game gives him a real case to be in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation.
For a Pacers team built on depth and chemistry, he fits. Carlisle just has to keep leaning on him without piling on too much.
In Other News...
Tyrese Haliburton Added A Surprise Twist To His Pacers Comeback
Tyrese Haliburtons return gave the Pacers exactly the kind of lift they needed, and it came with a little extra flair before he even stepped on the floor. After recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered in June 2025, Haliburton was back in uniform and looked like himself again in his first game back, finishing with 23 points and 12 assists in Indianas win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The night also carried an unexpected pop culture nod. Haliburton showed up in a pregame outfit that paid tribute to WWE star Triple H, and the gesture drew a response from Triple H on social media. For a Pacers team trying to settle back into its rhythm with its point guard leading the way again, it was a reminder that Haliburton can still turn a return game into a moment. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Already Face An Early Injury Problem They Cant Ignore
The early injury chatter around the league already has an Indiana angle, with several familiar names showing up on the latest availability reports. AJ Dybantsa will miss his regular season debut for Washington because of a left ankle sprain, while a string of other players are dealing with issues of their own, including Tristan Vukcevic, Felix Okpara, Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Dereck Lively II.
For the Pacers, the bigger concern is the state of their own rotation and how quickly these early absences can reshape a game plan. T.J. McConnell, Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard are among the players listed as sidelined or questionable in recent updates, and when the injury report starts stacking up this early, every status check matters even more than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Get One Encouraging Return As Another Injury Concern Lingers
The Bulls did get a bit of good news as the regular season opened, with Zach Collins back after a quad injury and available in a limited role. Head coach Tiago Splitter said the team will have to be careful with Collins minutes, settling him in around 12 to 16 per game while sorting through different rotation combinations and trying to make up for the absence of starting center Nic Claxton.
There is still another layer of concern in Chicago, though, because Josh Giddey said a preseason wrist injury will need to be managed all season. In a Central Division where the Pacers are off to a winning start behind Tyrese Haliburton and rivals around them are already dealing with their own early-season issues, the Bulls are left balancing short-term help with longer-term caution before the calendar even gets going. [Read more 🡒]