Obi Toppin is day-to-day with a back issue and questionable for Friday night's game at Miami, according to the injury report. The Pacers are already without several regulars, and the update adds a forward to the list of question marks.
What happened
Toppin was listed as day-to-day on the injury report at 4:38 p.m. ET Friday with a back issue. The report's comment says: "Toppin (back) is questionable for Friday's game against the Heat." The report gives an expected return date of Oct. 30, the same day as the game. This is a new problem. Earlier this week Toppin was day-to-day with a left hand issue on Tuesday, Oct. 27. He was cleared Wednesday, listed again the same day, then cleared again.
What it means for the Pacers
Indiana plays at Miami at 8 p.m. ET Friday. The Pacers are 2-3, 10th in the conference, and have lost two straight. Toppin has played all five games and averages 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22.9 minutes. The team has not played a game without him. The injury list is long. Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, Ben Sheppard, Johnny Furphy and T.J. McConnell are out, and Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith are day-to-day. If Toppin sits, more of the frontcourt minutes would go to Pascal Siakam (32.1 minutes, 24.0 points), Kelly Oubre Jr. (24.0 minutes) and Jarace Walker (21.0 minutes).
What to watch
The next step is Toppin's status before tipoff in Miami. No later update has been announced. The report's expected return date is Friday, so this looks like a game-time call, not a long absence. A full timeline has not been announced. Also watch Nembhard and Nesmith, who are both day-to-day. Their status will decide how thin Indiana's rotation is against the Heat.
Is Obi Toppin playing at Heat on Fri, Oct 30?
He is questionable with a back issue, according to the injury report. A final decision has not been announced.
When will Obi Toppin be back?
He is day-to-day, and the injury report lists Oct. 30 as his expected return. No other timeline has been announced.