Obi Toppin of the Knicks shoots the ball against Justin Holiday of the Pacers during the second half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Credit: Getty Images/Michael Hickey
In another time, when there were real fans instead of just a soundtrack pumped into Madison Square Garden, there likely would have been applause, maybe even a standing ovation when Obi Toppin entered the game in the second quarter Wednesday night.
The Knicks’ lottery pick had not played since the opener three weeks earlier as he rehabilitated from a strained left calf. He took the floor against the Nets and, almost before a real crowd would have been back in its seats, Toppin was in his — lifted from the game after just 57 seconds.