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Pairing Obi Toppin with Julius Randle could energize Knicks offense

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Obi Toppin wasn’t just the first big man off the bench for the Knicks in their 106-100 victory over the Lakers on Tuesday at the Garden. He was the only big man off the bench.

With Mitchell Robinson and Taj Gibson unavailable because of injuries, coach Tom Thibodeau used Toppin for 21:39. That meant the second-year forward had to be on the floor at the same time as Julius Randle for stretches of the game.

Knicks fans have been clamoring for Randle and Toppin to play together. Thibodeau has been reluctant — and he still sounds a little hesitant because of what it does to the defense — but as Toppin improves, the chances of seeing him playing next to Randle increase.