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After turning off the lights on season opener, RJ Barrett fell through hard times, the second of which coincided with a losing streak.
But despite the Knicks having their three-game winning streak Friday night against the Kings in Sacramento, Calif., Barrett rediscovered his touch and was having a major impact in the process.
“We just try to work hard and work everyday,” Barrett said after scoring a career-high 28 out of 10 points in 17 in Thursday’s win over the Warriors. “That’s really what we’re trying to do. We are really focused. We gave it our all and will continue to do so throughout the season.
In Friday’s 103-94 loss to the Kings, Barrett had 21 points on an 8 for 17 shot – including 2 for 2 of 3. In his last five games starting Friday, Barrett averaged 21, 8 points – on 51.4% shooting. and 38.9% depth – to go with 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists. In the 10 games before that streak he was shooting just 33.1% from ground and 12.8% from beyond the arc – numbers which were bolstered by two games in the middle in which the southpaw briefly caught on heat. and shot 18 of 34 from the ground. and 5 for 10 out of three.
“I think RJ played really well, I would say like the last five or six games, playing at a very high level,” said coach Tom Thibodeau. “He started the season where he had a big opening night and I think the teams followed him very well. But he adapts and even during the stretch where he wasn’t pulling particularly well, he was bouncing really well and playing.
Frank Ntilikina has missed his 13th consecutive game since suffering from a sprained right knee on December 29. Austin Rivers was also out for a second night in a row with right Achilles pain. … Sunday’s game in Portland moved from 9 pm EST to 10 pm.
– additional report by Peter Botte
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