Knicks Notch Ugly Win Against Undermanned Pistons

Jalen Brunson on RJ Barrett: "I think he can be an All-Star. I think he can be a very impactful player. I think he can lead a franchise."

If nothing else, the Knicks have won the games they're supposed to win this season. Friday night, matched up against a terrible Pistons team playing without their best player, was certainly such a contest. 

However, despite walking away with a 121-112 victory, last night's victory over Detroit was hardly inspiring. 

New York entered the fourth quarter up 14 points but allowed the Pistons, who were missing point guard Cade Cunningham, to cut the lead to six with seven minutes left in regulation. Still, the Knicks hung on, registering a much-needed victory after Wednesday's blowout in Brooklyn. "A win is a win," as they say 

RJ Barrett was the star of the show for New York. In arguably his best all-around game of the season, RJ finished with 30 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three 3-pointers while shooting 10-of-17 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. It was the fourth time Barrett (who turned 22 over the summer) has tallied at least 30/5/5 in his career. No other player in Knicks franchise history has more than one such game before turning 23. 

RJ started the season struggling but has been far more efficient and has boosted his percentages significantly of late. Over the Knicks' past seven games, Barrett is averaging 21.6 points while shooting over 49% from the floor, 42.9% from downtown and 77% from the charity stripe. 

After Friday's win, Jalen Brunson had some lofty praise for his teammate. "I think he can be an All-Star. I think he can be a very impactful player. I think he can lead a franchise," Brunson said of Barrett. "I have the utmost faith in him. He works very hard. He has a great demeanor in how he plays. You never see when he's frustrated. You never see when he's having the game of his life. He's always even-keeled… He's not afraid of the moment; he's not afraid of anything. He's capable of doing a lot of big things."

Brunson added, "RJ's multidimensional. You're seeing his game evolve. All he does is eat, breathe and live basketball. I love how he's playing, and he's in a great rhythm right now."

Brunson has assisted on 23 of RJ's 87 made FGs this season.