Obi Toppin Explodes: Could the Knicks’ High-Flying Star Be Headed for a Blockbuster Trade?

H2: From Garden Castoff to Gainbridge Hero The Eastern Conference Finals opened with an electric subplot: former Knicks lottery pick Obi Toppin torching his old team while wearing Pacers blue and gold. Toppin poured in 18 points, punctuated by two crowd-silencing fast-break slams that swung momentum in Indiana’s 118-114 overtime victory at Madison Square Garden. H2: The Sequence That Shifted Game 1 Midway through the fourth quarter, New York led by eight. A careless in-bounds pass turned into a Toppin steal and windmill dunk; on the very next possession he leaked out for another highlight jam, triggering a 14-2 Pacers run that erased the deficit. According to Sports Illustrated, Toppin scored or assisted on 10 of those 14 points, flashing the open-floor explosiveness that once made him a fan favorite on Broadway. H2: Knicks’ Regret Grows Louder New York traded Toppin last July for two second-round picks, citing fit concerns behind Julius Randle. The 26-year-old has since flourished in Rick Carlisle’s uptempo system, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 38 % from three in the postseason. Jalen Brunson admitted afterward that the Knicks “probably should have fouled” Toppin before his game-tying three late in regulation, a sequence that still haunts the locker room. H2: A Spicy Back-and-Forth With Fans Toppin’s triumph was spiced by his testy exchange with Knicks faithful. After being showered with boos, the Brooklyn native clapped back post-game, challenging hecklers to “pull up” to the team hotel if they had more to say. The remark quickly went viral on social media, adding extra edge to an already heated series. H2: Why Indiana Needs Toppin’s Spark • Transition Thunder: Indiana leads all playoff teams in fast-break points, and Toppin is responsible for nearly a quarter of that production. • Small-Ball Flexibility: Carlisle often closes with Toppin at the 5, forcing Mitchell Robinson to defend in space. The look generated a +12 net rating in Game 1. • Revenge Motivation: Teammates say Toppin’s desire to prove New York wrong is fueling the locker room’s confidence. H2: What’s Next Game 2 tips Tuesday night at the Garden. Expect Tom Thibodeau to assign OG Anunoby to Toppin in an effort to curb open-court leaks, but Indiana believes its pace is sustainable. “When Obi runs, the whole team runs,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “That’s our identity now.” If Toppin continues to dunk on the ghosts of his past, the Pacers could leave Manhattan with a 2-0 stranglehold—and the narrative of the playoffs may belong to the high-flyer New York let get away.