Conscious of his need to provide the Indiana Pacers with a jolt of energy during a critical, near-weeklong road trip along the West coast, Obi Toppin’s method of choice arrived through a poetic go-to: the Eastbay jam. With a noticeable fingerprint on the game’s first half already, Toppin keeps his impact flowing, getting enough of a hand on Bradley Beal’s drive to force a steal, followed by a subsequent one-man fastbreak opportunity. Free to search through his endless rolodex of must-see jams, 2022’s Slam Dunk Contest champion opts for familiarity, effortlessly elevating into a thrilling between-the-leg flush to extend the Pacers’ pre-halftime lead. Said efforts helped the blue-and-yellow open their three-game venture successfully, as Indiana overwhelmed the star-studded Phoenix Suns for a nine-point runaway win. Alongside his tie for a game-high three deflections, Toppin commanded note on the box scores, collecting 13 points (on four-of-seven shooting), eight rebounds, one steal, one block, and two 3-pointers in just 17 minutes. · Dec 20, 2024