TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 10: Obi Toppin #1 of the...

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 10: Obi Toppin #1 of the New York Knicks goes up for a slam dunk past Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors during the second half of their basketball game at the Scotiabank Arena on December 10, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Mark Blinch

After the best game of his two-year career Friday night, Obi Toppin entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Saturday, the team announced. He became the first Knicks player to be shut down this season.

Toppin, like all of his teammates, is vaccinated, although a team source indicated this past week that not all of the players have received the booster yet.

The news came less than 24 hours after the high-flying Toppin put up career highs of 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 90-87 loss to the Raptors. There were moments when he became the sort of reliable cog in the offense that the Knicks have waited for, something more than just a windmill dunk and a return to the bench to let the real players handle the game.

The Knicks did not disclose when Toppin tested positive for his symptoms, but a vaccinated player can be in protocols for either a positive test or an inconclusive test. If positive, a player can discontinue isolation and rejoin his team either 10 days from the date of his first positive test or after he returns two negative tests taken 24 hours apart.

It was hard to imagine that Toppin was feeling any symptoms during Friday’s game. He even went to the interview room afterward and showed no hint of illness.

Coach Tom Thibodeau continues to search for lineup combinations that will prevent the lifeless lulls that befall the Knicks nearly every game. Once Toppin returns, will Friday’s outing be enough for him to get more than the 24 minutes he was on the floor?

"He plays well, he plays more. Simple," Thibodeau said. "You have to earn what you get."

There certainly are flaws in Toppin’s game. He missed four of his five three-point attempts Friday and his defense still is not where Thibodeau wants it. And putting him on the floor with Julius Randle leaves the Knicks without a true rim protector.

But Toppin provided energy for a team nearly devoid of it at times, helping them battle back from a 30-10 deficit. They went ahead 87-86 but missed two three-pointers in the final seconds.

Toppin’s minutes per game have gone from 11 last season to nearly 16, but they are far less than what Knicks fans are clamoring for as the team struggles.

"It was not hard at all," Toppin said of being pulled for the final minutes of the game. "Thibs knows what he’s doing. He’s been around for a very long time and he’s a great coach, an amazing coach. And we have great players on our team who know what they’ve got to do when they get on the court, and I just know what I got to do when I’m on the court. So I’m going to give 110% every time I step on that floor and so is everyone else.

"I know what I have to bring to every game. I’ve got to bring energy. I’ve got to bring a spirit to the team. And just go out there and have fun. We’ve all been playing basketball for a very long time, so we know what we got to do when we’re on that court and we’re going to fix it."

Notes & quotes: The Knicks will host the Bucks at noon Sunday, an early start that is part of the NBA’s effort to put games on in prime time in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.  

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