NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT

December 7, 2023

Obi Toppin

Indiana Pacers

Semifinal Postgame

Pacers 128, Bucks 119

Q. What did this win mean to you guys as a group, and how do you balance staying focused on Saturday and kind of celebrating a big win today?

OBI TOPPIN: I mean, obviously it means a lot. It was the first semifinals win out here in Vegas. A lot of fun. But like you said, we have one more Saturday. We're going to watch that game tonight and scout them tomorrow and be ready for that game.

Q. Can you describe what the locker room was like after this game? How much can you enjoy it and how much do you keep serious and monotone just like any other game?

OBI TOPPIN: I mean, we just got done with the win, so obviously we're going to live in the moment, enjoy it a lot. We were having fun in the locker room, playing music, laughing, joking. But as soon as tomorrow comes, we've got to lock in to whoever wins and figure out what we've got to do to get that win on Saturday.

Q. The In-Season Tournament has introduced a fresh sense of competition early in the season. What's one thing you've learned about your team during this tournament that you're excited to continue to hone and develop as you look toward the rest of the season and claim your spot in the season?

OBI TOPPIN: Yeah, I feel like since we're such a young team, we're growing, we're learning together. I feel like everybody wants to see each other succeed, players and coaches, front office, as well. Everybody here just wants to see everybody win.

We go out there, play for each other and we lock in to what the coaches is doing. We've got great coaches who know what they're doing, so we're going to lock in to what they're saying.

Q. What do you think you guys bunkered down after you gave up 43 in the third? What went right defensively, and how do you think you figured out what to do against their zone, as well?

OBI TOPPIN: Yeah, like I said, the coaches we have are great coaches. They have a scout that obviously they've looked over plenty of times. We already played Milwaukee, as well, earlier in the season. So we kind of had a feel of how we wanted to play them next time we played them.

I mean, going into the second half we knew they were going to go on a little run. Basketball is a game of runs. We just had to stay composed and just lock in, doing everything that the coaches were telling us to do. I feel like we did that, and that's why we got the win.

Q. A couple guys, Andrew, Ben, who aren't making the kind of money that you and some of your teammates are making. I'm curious, when you play Saturday for this thing, how much are you going to play for these guys to get them that half mill, which is maybe for them life-changing money?

OBI TOPPIN: It's life-changing money for me, too. $500,000 is a lot of money. I don't care how much money you've got.

Yeah, we know what it is. Obviously, everybody on our team is young. Tyrese, Bruce and Myles are probably the only ones with huge contracts. Having the opportunity of going out there and playing for them, they come in and we see the energy that they bring. We want to match that same energy.

But I feel like everybody knows that. Like, we don't got to say that at all. We just go in and play for each other, play really hard. Obviously, it's for the In-Season Tournament, but we want to do that for other games, too. We want to get to the real Playoffs and so on.

We're going to continue doing that and try and get more W's.

Q. Tyrese threw a no-look lob to you, you reversed it. And then this summer, you put a lot of work in. You were in L.A. with Chris Johnson. What was the focus in terms of getting better and finally getting that opportunity that you're getting now?

OBI TOPPIN: Yeah, so obviously it's no secret, everybody knows Tyrese is if not -- he's definitely the best passer in the game right now. Having the opportunity to play with him is amazing because like I said, he wants to see everybody win. He's going to get his, obviously, but he wants to see other guys on his team win, as well, and that's what makes us so special.

He's willing to give up hard shots for better shots or whatever.

He's doing an amazing job at that, and that's why we've been so successful as a team.

To your other question about Chris Johnson, we were definitely working two a days every single day this summer. Great trainer, him and Corey, shout-out to both of them. So having the opportunity to work with them, obviously they've been around greats, LeBron, Dwyane Wade. They've been working out really good players. So having the opportunity to work under them and learn from what they know, it's been great for me.

Q. Take me through that lob play. When do you know he's going to throw it up and -- it looked like you had to adjust in the air. What happened there?

OBI TOPPIN: I mean, everybody knows our offense. We run the floor really well. We play fast in transition. All I've got to do is just do my job, run the floor. Tyrese does his job, pass the ball very well. I didn't think I was going to make that. I didn't think I was that close to the basket when I jumped, but I just caught it, looked and knew that I was going to dunk that. That was a great pass by him. There's going to be a lot more of those, for sure.

Q. Tyrese's late three, the dagger and his ensuing celebration, what did you think of that and what he did right after?

OBI TOPPIN: Man, you saw the bench. We were going crazy over there. We know Ty is going to hit those. He's done it every single game so far. He's a really good player, especially late-game clutch player.

But yeah, that's why he got what he got, the money that he got, because he's a tremendous player. I love playing with him.