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It was more like the Obi Toppin the Knicks thought they were getting.
The lottery pick is still coming back after suffering from a strained calf during the season opener, Sunday marking only his fourth NBA game. But Toppin offered a glimpse of what could be to come, recording a career-high 12 points and five rebounds off the bench in the Knicks’ 105-75 win over the Celtics at TD Garden.
“Whatever the coach needs from me, I’m ready to do it,” Toppin said. “Anything that will help the team win, I’m ready to do it. And I will continue to learn and improve myself every day. We have great teammates and great coaches around me who are going to push me to be awesome every day. And I can’t wait for that day, for me to be awesome.
Toppin shot 5 of 8 from the field and 2 of 4 from beyond the arc in 17 minutes, the most he has played since the season opener. He said his conditioning was “pretty good” after missing 10 games.
“He did a really good job getting ready to play again,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “With each outing, he got better and better. And his defense is really coming. He’s a really gifted offensive player.
Toppin has shown a strong bond with fellow rookie Immanuel Quickley, the point guard feeding him on four of his five field goals, including an alley-oop.
Mitchell Robinson, who suffered a bruised right heel against the Cavaliers on Friday, was hit again in the first quarter Sunday after falling abruptly after blocking a 3-point. He said his knee was having the worst, which showed he still seemed to be moving cautiously when he came back in the second quarter.
“Everything is going well so far,” said Robinson. “Just keep getting me treated and see if I can play it.”
The Knicks are set to play the second half of a straight Monday against the Magic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a meaningful game for Reggie Bullock.
“By using my platform, I have to raise awareness about a lot of the social issues that are happening across America,” Bullock said. “I think it’s important for us to play that day. I am very proud to do it, to play with my team and to compete. The Knicks are a huge franchise. It’s great for us to use our platform and play for a great organization. We are playing MLK Day to continue to raise awareness of all of the social issues that are currently facing the United States. We are playing MLK Day to continue to raise awareness of all of the social issues facing the United States right now.
Thibodeau left the door open for Alec Burks (sprained left ankle) to possibly come back on Monday after having had a “good day” training on Saturday.
– Additional reporting by Marc Berman
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