The New York Knicks cruised to a 113-89 win over an Atlanta Hawks team that was without an injured Dejounte Murray after the first quarter. However, the Knicks dealt with an injury of their own as Obi Toppin was ruled out of the second half with a sore right knee.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported after the game that Toppin would be undergoing an MRI on Thursday, and now, it’s been made official that he’ll be re-evaluated in two to three weeks with a non-displaced fracture in his right fibula.
Knicks forward Obi Toppin is expected to be re-evaluated in two-to-three weeks after imaging today on his left knee, sources tell ESPN. Toppin has averaged 7.7 points in 17 minutes a game this season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 8, 2022
An injury is never good news, but especially for a player like Toppin that’s been fighting to earn minutes in Tom Thibodeau’s rotation. Regardless of how Toppin performs, it’s clear that doesn’t matter to Thibodeau. Knicks fans have been questioning New York’s use of Toppin, especially since the team selected him No. 8 overall in 2020. It doesn’t help that he’s played behind Julius Randle since entering the league.
Knicks forward Obi Toppin suffered a non-displaced fracture in right knee against Hawks
Here’s the play that Obi Toppin appeared to get injured on:
It looks like Obi Toppin was injured on this play. He played another four minutes before getting subbed out. He was ruled out of the second half with a sore knee and is undergoing an MRI, according to ESPN pic.twitter.com/RHpeKqzeyC
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) December 8, 2022
Before it was known how long Toppin would be sidelined, Thibodeau spoke to the media and mentioned that RJ Barrett may spend some time at the four.
Tom Thibodeau was asked last night about potential replacements for Obi Toppin if Toppin were to miss time due to a knee injury: “I like the idea of RJ being there some. I think he showed us last year how effective he can be at the four, so I think that can be a possibility.”
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) December 8, 2022
Cam Reddish hasn’t played in New York’s previous two games although he is no longer dealing with a groin injury. He’s been pushed out of the nine-man rotation and based on Thibodeau’s response to the above question, it doesn’t seem as if Reddish is going to re-enter the rotation. The Knicks have been wrapped up in trade rumors as of late, including Reddish.
Hopefully, Obi Toppin will be able to return to the court in a few weeks. Randle has been playing well this season, but Toppin provides a spark that no other player on the roster can replicate.
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