On the night time the Knicks lastly added a brand new piece for his or her bench, second-unit guard Cam Payne loved his best efficiency of the season
Payne, a former teammate of Landry Shamet in Phoenix, netted a season-high 19 factors — together with 11 to assist flip the sport within 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 mentioned. “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 got here in averaging 7.5 factors per sport, nailed 4 3-pointers, all within the first half.
Knicks rookie guard Tyler Kolek was named the MVP of the G-League Showcase after main Westchester to the title over Sioux Falls with 22 factors and 11 assists Sunday night time in Orlando, Fla.
Kolek, who has appeared in 18 video games for the Knicks this season, and fellow rookies Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti had been recalled earlier than Monday’s sport in opposition to 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 mentioned of Kolek, a second-round pick 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 damage. RJ Barrett additionally was on the damage report as questionable with an sickness, however he was within the lineup and scored 23 factors.
Barrett got here into the sport averaging career-bests with 23.5 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per sport.
“No. 1, he’s a terrific person so it doesn’t surprise me, just the way he’s worked his entire career,” Thibodeau mentioned. “For those who’ve adopted his progress from Duke to the professionals, every year he’s gotten quite a bit higher. 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.”
