RJ Erupts But Knicks Lose in OT

In the 18 games New York has played dating back to the end of December, Barrett is averaging 22.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 made three-pointers.

Game Recap: LeBron's Lakers outlast Barrett's Bockers, 122-115

There are a bunch of different ways we could approach recapping this contest, but let's start with the positive.

This Knicks season, much like Saturday night's loss in Los Angeles, has been bitterly disappointing, but one bright spot has been the emergence of RJ Barrett.

RJ logged 50 minutes vs. LA and finished with 36 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four 3-pointers. He's the first Knicks and just the sixth player in NBA history to tally at least 36/8/5/4 in a single game before celebrating his 22nd birthday. The other five players in this club are Luka Doncic, Steph Curry, Devin Booker, Trae Young and LeBron James. 

Barrett started out on fire, pouring in 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting over the first nine minutes of the contest. With three minutes left in the first period, RJ had scored more points than the entire Lakers team. He played solidly the rest of the way before taking over for New York in the final frame, where he scored a game-high 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting (and made both of his free-throw attempts with two minutes left). 

Barrett saved his best for last, closing out regulation with arguably the best sequence of his young career. 

With 40 seconds left and the Knicks trailing by five points, Trevor Ariza missed a free throw. Barrett grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball up the floor, breezing past Russell Westbrook before taking off from inside the dotted and dunking over Anthony Davis, who had come over to help. 

The Knicks, now down three points, were able to get a stop on the subsequent possession, with Barrett guarding LeBron. Evan Fournier scooped up the rebound with twelve seconds left on the clock and advanced the ball into the frontcourt. Barrett sprinted toward the three-point arc and called for it. Fournier found him, and RJ drilled a triple to tie the game with less than nine seconds left, tying the game. 

New York got a stop on the next possession, sending the contest into overtime. After the game, Barrett told reporters he asked for the defensive assignment on LeBron.