Feelings acquired excessive between two former Knicks on Friday evening.
Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein acquired into it in the course of the Thunder’s 111-104 Sport 4 win within the NBA Finals after Toppin dedicated a tough foul on Oklahoma Metropolis guard Alex Caruso.
Toppin, 27, obtained a flagrant 1 after stiff-arming Caruso to the bottom whereas the 31-year-old was driving in for a layup halfway by way of the second quarter.
Hartenstein, 27, rushed over to confront Toppin shortly after the play, with the pair having to be held again by referees after the Brooklyn native shoved the Thunder heart.
After the officers ultimately broke up the altercation, each Toppin and Hartenstein have been issued technicals following a assessment.
Toppin, who was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 8 decide within the 2020 NBA Draft, was dealt to Indiana for 2 future second-round picks forward of the 2023-24 season.
Each have been teammates on the Knicks in the course of the 2022-23 season throughout Hartenstein’s first of two seasons with the workforce.
The Knicks finally let Hartenstein stroll throughout final 12 months’s free company, when he signed a three-year deal value $87 million with the Thunder, a contract that he believed ended up figuring out for either side.
“It was smart,” Hartenstein stated earlier than a recreation between the Knicks and Thunder in January. “I believe it was for each events, it was good. I’m in a state of affairs right here the place it’s going actually good. They acquired a fantastic heart, top-of-the-line facilities within the league.
“So I think for both parties it was perfect. Knowing Leon Rose, he’ll always find something. He’s been doing a great job, so he made the right adjustment.”
Regardless of the Knicks solely providing Hartenstein a four-year contract value $72 million, the large man insisted that he didn’t go away solely for the cash.
“I think I’m getting the ball a little bit more now. In the league, you just have to find your roles and every situation your role is different,” he stated. “Sort of New York it was [different]. My utilization went up extra on the finish, however I used to be simply attempting to determine a task and that was taking part in protection, rebounding, getting Jalen [Brunson] open, getting different guys open appears.
“And so I think you just have to adjust to the role. Here, the role is getting the ball a little bit more.”
Hartenstein completed the win with two factors, two assists and 6 rebounds because the Thunder tied up the collection at two video games apiece.
Toppin dropped in 17 factors with seven assists within the Indiana loss.
Sport 5 can be held in Oklahoma Metropolis on Monday evening.
