The New York Knicks have faced one of the toughest schedules in the NBA to this point. Things got even more difficult when they lost a home game because of their finish in the NBA In-Season Tournament and ended up with extra road games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, the two best teams in the Eastern Conference.
That had the team on a two-game losing streak heading into Monday’s contest against the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks were up against it as they found out earlier in the day starting center Mitchell Robinson would be sidelined at least two months because of an ankle injury that required surgery.
On top of that, their schedule gets even more daunting. After Monday’s game at MSG, the Knicks were set to embark on a five-game road trip that starts with four games out west and finishes against the Brooklyn Nets. After that, it is back-to-back home games against the Bucks before another three-game road trip.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: RJ Barrett & New York Knicks Updates
At this point in the season, it is hard to call a game a must-win, but Monday was as close to a must-win for the Knicks as you can get for Game 22. They responded as you would have hoped, spurred in part by Canada’s own, RJ Barrett.
Barrett always seems to get up for games against the Raptors and plays well against them. Monday was no different, as he looks to be shaking the effects of the migraine headaches that kept him sidelined for a few games.
In 32 minutes against Toronto, Barrett scored 27 points, going 11-of-21 from the field, 3-of-8 from 3-point range and 2-of-4 from the charity stripe. He grabbed three rebounds with two assists, one block and one steal for a solid stat line.
When the team needed Barrett the most, he stepped up. He was magnificent in the fourth quarter, helping put the Raptors away for good. In the final stanza, he scored 12 of his 27 points and didn’t miss a shot. He registered a 102 true shooting percentage with a rebound, assist and steal.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: RJ Barrett & New York Knicks Updates
The Knicks are now heading on their road trip with some much-needed positive momentum. Barrett answered the call when his team needed him to step up, as he was one of six players to score in double-figures on Monday night.
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