Obi Toppin was cleared on the official injury report at 6:17 PM ET Wednesday after he was listed as day-to-day with a left hand issue. That makes him available to the Pacers for Wednesday's 7:00 PM ET home game against the 76ers.
What happened
Toppin's status moved from day-to-day to cleared on the official injury report at 6:17 PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28. He had been listed as day-to-day on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and again earlier Wednesday with a left hand and arm issue. The report gave his expected return as Oct. 28, the same day. It offered no further detail on the injury and no comment. The 28-year-old forward was cleared less than an hour before tipoff.
What it means for the Pacers
Indiana hosts the 76ers at 7:00 PM ET Wednesday on ESPN. The Pacers are 2-2, ninth in the standings, and lost their last game. Toppin has played in all four games. He is averaging 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.2 minutes, so the team is 2-2 with him and has yet to play without him. His return matters more because the Pacers are thin. Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy and T.J. McConnell are all listed out. Pascal Siakam leads the healthy group at 31.6 minutes and 23.5 points. Andrew Nembhard plays 31.9 minutes, Kelly Oubre Jr. 22.6, Jarace Walker 20.9, Aaron Nesmith 20.1 and Quenton Jackson 19.3.
What to watch
Toppin is cleared, so the question is his workload against Philadelphia, not his availability. No minutes restriction has been announced. With Zubac out, Toppin, Siakam and Walker carry more of the frontcourt load. The Pacers have not announced a timeline for the five players still listed out. Watch the next injury report to see whether the left hand issue comes back.
Is Obi Toppin playing vs 76ers on Wed, Oct 28?
He is cleared. The official injury report listed him as cleared at 6:17 PM ET, ahead of the 7:00 PM ET tipoff against the 76ers on ESPN.
When will Obi Toppin be back?
He is back now. The injury report cleared him on Oct. 28, the same date it gave as his expected return, after two days as day-to-day with a left hand issue.