Toppin electrifies MSG crowd, brings mom to tears in Knicks’ first playoff win since 2013

Flyers men’s basketball fans are used to Obi Toppin’s high-flying ability, as he often wowed the UD faithful during his incredible run in 2019-20 to the Naismith Player of the Year award. Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn, Flyer News.

Peter Burtnett
Sports Editor

Former Flyer Obi Toppin electrified the crowd at Madison Square Garden and his mom was brought to tears when the crowd chanted her son’s name during the New York Knicks’ 101-92 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Wednesday night in New York City.

In the win, the Knicks’ first in the playoffs since 2013, Toppin scored 8 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, blocked a shot and finished with a plus/minus of +6 in 12 minutes of action. But the biggest highlight of the night came on a lob from Alec Burks one minute into the fourth quarter, giving the Knicks a six-point lead and sending The Mecca into a frenzy.

Toppin, a native New Yorker, has a well-known supportive mom, Roni, who was brought to tears when the MSG crowd began chanting her son’s name.

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1397733319765229569

After an up and down regular season when he averaged 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 62 games played, Toppin has now scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 24 minutes played in the Knicks’ first playoff games in eight years.

The Knicks are currently tied with the Hawks at 1 game apiece, with Game 3 from Atlanta up next at 7 p.m. Friday.