What happened: The Indiana Pacers will dress forward Obi Toppin despite an injury designation to satisfy league active roster requirements against the Atlanta Hawks. The decision follows a previous ruling where the Pacers ruled out Toppin and Nance, leaving the active bench depleted. Toppin is suiting up in uniform but is not expected to play.

Why it matters: League rules require teams to dress an active roster minimum to avoid a forfeit or cancellation. Dressing Toppin allows Indiana to legally stage the contest despite having an exhausted rotation. The severe roster shortage forces the Pacers to rely almost entirely on their few remaining healthy players.

What to watch: The Hawks and Pacers are scheduled to tip off Monday at 7:30 PM ET in Indiana. Indiana will manage strict minute loads across its limited available rotation throughout the matchup.