NBA: Obi Toppin, Pacers outlast Wizards in OT

Feb 12, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) defends in the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Obi Toppin had 31 points and 10 rebounds off the bench Wednesday, helping the visiting Indiana Pacers rally for a 134-130 overtime win over the Washington Wizards in the NBA.

Bennedict Mathurin added 28 points, while Tyrese Haliburton scored 20 and dished seven assists as the Pacers snapped a two-game losing skid. Pascal Siakam had 15 points, T.J. McConnell chipped in 10 with nine assists and Thomas Bryant led the team with 11 rebounds.

Jordan Poole paced Washington with 42 points, followed by Corey Kispert’s 21 and Carlton Carrington’s 18. Kyshawn George added 14 points and nine rebounds and Malcolm Brogdon finished with 12 points and six assists as the Wizards dropped their fourth consecutive game.

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In overtime, Siakam and Poole traded baskets before Haliburton’s layup and Mathurin’s four straight points gave Indiana a 128-122 lead. After Washington’s timeout, Toppin connected on his sixth 3-pointer to extend Indiana’s advantage to nine.

Alexandre Sarr and Poole then each knocked down a triple to pull the Wizards within three with 45 seconds left. Following an Indiana turnover and foul, Poole continued the run with a pair of free throws.

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) goes to the basket past Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr (20) during overtime of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Siakam then split a pair of foul shots and later sealed the win from the line after Poole missed a potential game-tying 2-pointer in the closing seconds.

Trailing 97-84, Indiana began the final quarter on an 18-7 run, stamped with Ben Sheppard’s four straight points to pull within two with 7:52 left. The Pacers drew even with 5:13 to go before George’s three-point play and Poole’s layup pushed the Wizards’ lead to 115-110 with just under four minutes remaining.

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Mathurin’s three-point play started an 8-0 run to pull the Pacers ahead at the 2:13 mark.

Poole then scored five straight points to give Washington a two-point edge with 23 seconds left, before Andrew Nembhard’s free throws knotted the game nine seconds later.

After trailing by 13 at halftime, Indiana pulled within 11 on Haliburton’s triple with 9:48 left in the third quarter. Washington’s ensuing 13-5 run extended its lead to 78-59 on Carrington’s layup with 6:26 remaining.

Indiana cut its deficit to 13 entering the final quarter on Mathurin’s buzzer-beating trey.

The Wizards gained separation late in the second quarter with a 12-0 run to go up 60-44. Aaron Nesmith’s 3-pointer cut Indiana’s halftime deficit to 60-47. –Field Level Media