On the night the Knicks finally added a new piece for their bench, second-unit guard Cam Payne enjoyed his finest performance of the season
Payne, a former teammate of Landry Shamet in Phoenix, netted a season-high 19 points — including 11 to help turn the game in the second quarter alongside fellow reserve guard Miles McBride — in Monday’s 139-125 win over the Raptors.
“Just came out there being aggressive, trying to change the pace of the game,” Payne said. “It’s kind of our jobs, kind of the things we do every time. We bring pace, we bring energy, and it’s a different kind of game when we get out there.”
Payne, who came in averaging 7.5 points per game, nailed four 3-pointers, all in the first half.
Knicks rookie guard Tyler Kolek was named the MVP of the G-League Showcase after leading Westchester to the title over Sioux Falls with 22 points and 11 assists Sunday night in Orlando, Fla.
Kolek, who has appeared in 18 games for the Knicks this season, and fellow rookies Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti were recalled before Monday’s game against the Raptors.
“I like the fact that [Kolek] did it within a team concept, that he came into the game and he made some 3s, but his playmaking was terrific, as well,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Kolek, a second-round pick out of Marquette. “I think it’s great, a great accomplishment. … For the guys that are up and down, that’s not easy. Tyler played a great game, but they played as a team, and it’s a terrific accomplishment. So we’re really proud of them.”
Former Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley has been out for the Raptors since Nov. 10 with a left elbow injury. RJ Barrett also was on the injury report as questionable with an illness, but he was in the lineup and scored 23 points.
Barrett came into the game averaging career-bests with 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
“No. 1, he’s a terrific person so it doesn’t surprise me, just the way he’s worked his entire career,” Thibodeau said. “If you’ve followed his progress from Duke to the pros, each year he’s gotten a lot better. And he’s excelled in Toronto.
“He’s doing a number of things really well. He continues to get better and better and that’s not surprising at all.”
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