Obi Toppin returns as Hornets rain three on Pacers
Obi Toppin is back and Quenton Jackson has a new contract.
INDIANAPOLIS – Obi Toppin returned from a 56-game absence for the Pacers on Thursday night. It was his first game since October 26 as recovered from a stress fracture in his right foot, and he started for the first time this season.
It's of major consequence for the Pacers that one of their best players from last season is back on the court. Yet his return did little to improve the Pacers chances of winning against the Charlotte Hornets, though the loss had little to do with anything Toppin, specifically, did.
Instead, the Pacers 133-109 defeat – their fifth in a row – was a result of the Hornets brilliant three-point shooting. The visitors made 22 three pointers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse Thursday night, the most the Pacers have conceded in a game this season. Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel alone combined to make 14 threes, more than the Pacers as a team.
Tony East
"We had some mistakes. But on a lot of those shots, their talented guys just jumped up and made shots," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said postgame, later calling Miller's third-quarter heater breathtaking. "We've got to do a better job at the point of attack," he added later.
The Pacers were ahead 34-31 after the first quarter. Just like their game from two days prior against the 76ers, the second quarter began and the game instantly flipped. After a Kam Jones three early in the second frame, the Hornets went on a 16-0 run in 3:06. The Pacers never led again.
That second period went in favor of Charlotte 36-12. The third quarter tipped to the Hornets 40-36. The Pacers couldn't get stops and the game got out of hand quickly.
Also of concern for the Pacers was their rebounding. They got beat 46-37 on the glass – teams like Charlotte (and Houston and San Antonio) that focus on the boards have given the Pacers trouble all year.
"I think it's a lot of mental mistakes. Just a lot of scouting report stuff and teams like Charlotte will make you pay for that," guard T.J. McConnell said of his team's struggles against the Hornets Thursday night.
That stylistic challenge, combined with the red-hot three-point shooting, made Toppin's return game a 24-point defeat. The result was poor. But the Pacers defense was better than it had been in the previous three games despite the ridiculous output from the Hornets, and they'll be happy to see strides on that end of the floor. The biggest story, though, was Toppin being back on the floor and what it means for the rest of this season.
Obi Toppin's long journey back
Toppin was sidelined for 123 days in total. Originally, his injury was listed as a hamstring ailment, but that was quickly ruled out. Something was still wrong, though, so Toppin got an MRI.
That's when he discovered a crack in a bone in his right foot. The best long-term solution was surgery, and that's what Toppin decided to do. He didn't want to worry about the injury returning in the future.
Toppin has played in at least 62 games during every season of his career before this one. Sitting out 56 games was excruciating. He couldn't sit still, even when he was supposed to. Early in the rehab process, Toppin was riding around with his injured foot on a knee scooter yet still getting up shots. "I can't sit still," Toppin said. "I'm always doing something."
His rehab sped up with activities like calf raises on his injured foot so that he could get his strength back. Toppin stayed in contact with his doctors – Dr. Martin O'Malley was his surgeon – to make sure he took the appropriate steps to return this season.
"I always want to be out there on the floor. I was not rushing to come back, but I definitely wanted to go out there," Toppin said. "We're still a team. We still [have] to find that rhythm. We're not having the greatest year this year, but to find that rhythm and connectivity with the team, we have standards."
Toppin has been with the team almost every day, including on the road, of late. The last hurdle for him to clear before being ready to suit up again was a simulated game – it gave him a look at the speed and physicality he would need once he put his uniform back on.
Once that benchmark was reached, Toppin was cleared to play. And he started, meaning he got to hear his name called during player introductions. Fans stood and cheered. McConnell leapt up and gave Toppin a chest bump as he ran through a tunnel of his Pacers teammates.
"He's our engine. He brings energy on both ends of the floor," McConnell said. "To have him back, it's just such a positive for our team. We've missed him dearly."
Added Carlisle: "The reaction of the crowd was heartwarming. He's a guy that brings energy to our team and our situation."
It's going to be a slow process of working Toppin back up to his normal workload. He might not play his typical minutes allotment for the rest of the season. While it might still be a while before Toppin has the same athletic pop and impact he's accustomed to, it didn't take long at all for the veteran forward to leave his mark.
The Hornets missed their first shot, and Toppin grabbed a rebound 24 seconds into the action. He dribbled the ball across half court, and a few passes later he had an open lane for a layup. 35 seconds into his return, Toppin scored. He was back.
"I'm super blessed. It's been a long time since I've been out there on the floor, but to be on the floor today, it felt amazing," Toppin said. He finished with three points, two rebounds, and one assist in 8:29 of play. Now, the focus becomes getting him minutes with some of his new(er) teammates.
Quenton Jackson's contract
Dustin Dopirak and I chatted with Quenton Jackson postgame. The 27-year old had just scored in double figures for the fourth-straight time, and the two-way signing deadline is approaching.
Naturally, that meant Jackson's contract could be converted to a standard deal at any moment. So we asked him if he'd thought about getting the Pacers final roster spot.
"I've thought about it. I think it's hard not to think about it. But at the same time, I wouldn't say I wrap my head around it too much. I feel like in this game it's best to think about the things that you can control," Jackson began. "And I think that all the things that go as far as two-ways and conversions and extensions are things that are kind of out of my control in a sense. So I really just try and focus on playing basketball, putting the best product of myself out there that I can for not just me, but my team."
The honesty is refreshing. Jackson seemed to be by far the most likely candidate for the Pacers open roster spot, as I laid out here, and there weren't many games left between Thursday and the two-way signing deadline.
Jackson shared that he had not talked to the front office about his contract situation. He left that to his agents – his job was to play and to play well. Recently, he's been doing exactly that, and he was even honest about his performances recently.
"I feel like besides [the 76ers] game, energy was a little low [that] game for my standards. But other than that, I feel like I've done a great job of just being that energy. Been able to put the ball in the basket effectively and efficiently as of late," Jackson shared. "Trying to be a pest as a defender, trying to give guys energy, kind of all the same things that I always do. I don't try to let the fact that we have an open roster spot change the way that I play."
Since December 29 – an 18 game span for Jackson – the four-year pro has averaged 10.2 points and 2.1 assists per game. That's two months of double-figure scoring, including reaching 10-plus points in five of his last six outings. He's become one of the best players in the league on a two-way deal.
That distinction will be left in the past, though, because the Pacers plan to sign Jackson to a three year standard contract. Only the ongoing season is fully guaranteed, but the Pacers are rewarding Jackson for his growth and strong play across the last three seasons with the franchise. There's some guaranteed money in the deal during 2026-27, too.
"What's meant for me will be meant for me. If that's a [contract] conversion, that's a conversion. If I finish the year on a two-way, I finish on a two-way. At the end of the day, the path that I'm on is in God's hands," Jackson shared Thursday night.
A contract conversion it is. The Pacers roster will be filled with 15 standard contracts once that deal becomes official, but Jackon's current two-way spot will open up as a result. The Pacers plan right now is to add Jalen Slawson via that spot – he's currently with the Noblesville Boom. Perhaps he could be available when the Pacers next play, which is at home on Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Thank you for reading. It's been quite an eventful few weeks for the Pacers, and you can keep up with all of the stories and information right here on this website. Subscribe so it can be emailed straight to your inbox.
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