Toppin becomes seventh former Flyer to score 30 or more points in NBA game

Fans chanted Toppin’s name even though it was a road game for the Knicks.

“We have great fans, probably the best fans in the world,” Toppin told reporters. “To have them travel and chant not just my name but others, it’s a great feeling.”

Toppin made 14 of 22 field goals, including 6 of 9 3-pointers in 38 minutes. He topped his previous career high, which he reached in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, by 15 points.

Toppin has now more than doubled his scoring average from his rookie season. He’s averaging 8.5 points per game after averaging 4.1 points last season.

Toppin’s improved 3-point shooting has helped his average. He’s shooting 35.8% from 3-point range since the All-Star break after shooting 22.6% before the break.

Toppin, the consensus national player of the year at Dayton in 2020, is the seventh former Flyer to score 30 or more points in a NBA game. Here are the career-best scoring nights for the six previous former Flyers to score 30 or more points in a game.

• Roger Brown scored 46 points on 15-of-29 shooting while making 16 of 19 free throws for the Indiana Pacers on March 11, 1969, in a 122-112 victory against the New York Nets.

• Hank Finkel scored 42 points on 13-of-22 shooting, while making 16 of 18 free throws, for the San Diego Rockets on March 7, 1968, in 119-102 loss to the Lakers.

• Jim Paxson scored 41 points on 16-of-33 shooting for the Portland Trail Blazers on March 16, 1984, in a 156-155 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

• Don May scored 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting for the Buffalo Braves on March 2, 1971, in a 131-118 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

• Bucky Bockhorn scored 36 points on 17-of-26 shooting for the Cincinnati Royals on March 1, 1961, in a 137-122 victory against the Detroit Pistons.

• Johnny Davis scored 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting for the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 26, 1978, in a 114-12 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.