Obi Toppin, Isaiah Hartenstein hit with technicals after scuffle in tense NBA Finals moment
Emotions got high between two former Knicks on Friday night.
Obi Toppin and Isaiah Hartenstein got into it during the Thunder's 111-104 Game 4 win in the NBA Finals after Toppin committed a hard foul on Oklahoma City guard Alex Caruso.
Toppin, 27, received a flagrant 1 after stiff-arming Caruso to the ground while the 31-year-old was driving in for a layup midway through the second quarter.
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3 Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) shoves Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) during the first half of Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 13, 2025.
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Hartenstein, 27, rushed over to confront Toppin shortly after the play, with the pair having to be held back by referees after the Brooklyn native shoved the Thunder center.
After the officials eventually broke up the altercation, both Toppin and Hartenstein were issued technicals following a review.
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3 Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and NBA referee Josh Tiven hold back Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin during the first half of Game four of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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Toppin, who was drafted by the Knicks with the No. 8 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was dealt to Indiana for two future second-round picks ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Both were teammates on the Knicks during the 2022-23 season during Hartenstein's first of two seasons with the team.
The Knicks ultimately let Hartenstein walk during last year's free agency, when he signed a three-year deal worth $87 million with the Thunder, a contract that he believed ended up working out for both sides.
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3 Isaiah Hartenstein rebounds the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers during Game Three of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 11, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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'It was smart,' Hartenstein said before a game between the Knicks and Thunder in January. 'I think it was for both parties, it was perfect. I'm in a situation here where it's going really good. They got a great center, one of the best centers in 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.'
Despite the Knicks only offering Hartenstein a four-year contract worth $72 million, the big man insisted that he did not leave solely for the money.
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'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 said. 'Kind of New York it was [different]. My usage went up more at the end, but I was just trying to figure out a role and that was playing defense, rebounding, getting Jalen [Brunson] open, getting other guys open looks.
'And so I think you just have to adjust to the role. Here, the role is getting the ball a little bit more.'
Hartenstein finished the win with two points, two assists and six rebounds as the Thunder tied up the series at two games apiece.
Toppin dropped in 17 points with seven assists in the Indiana loss.
Game 5 will be held in Oklahoma City on Monday night.
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