ORLANDO — RJ Barrett had done his part already, piling up 24 points in three quarters Sunday as the Knicks had their lead up to 32 when he wandered past the press table near the Knicks bench and implored the media, “Write something good.”
He mostly spent the fourth quarter of their 118-88 win over the Magic trying to get Obi Toppin to stop urging the crowd to chant Barrett’s name. But when the lead was reduced to 21 midway through the fourth, Barrett was sent back into the game even though he’d already been hit hard by Mo Wagner for a flagrant foul in the third quarter.
Barrett scored three more points, helped stabilize the lead, and left with just over a minute left and a 27-point advantage.
Kids are back
A youth movement through the final days of the season got a little easier Sunday with the return to the lineup of rookies Quentin Grimes and Miles McBride.
McBride missed Saturday's game with a sore right knee, but was back to come off the bench Sunday. Grimes missed nine games after suffering a subluxation of the right patella, returned for five games and then sat out the last four games.
McBride played 11 minutes and Grimes was on the floor for 16 minutes.
Coming soon?
Feron Hunt, who was signed to a two-way contract March 18, and has been playing for Westchester in the G League, could be available for the Knicks soon. Hunt was with Dallas and New Orleans this season, but never got in an NBA game. But the 22-year-old wing could get time with the Knicks with Westchester’s season over.
“I haven’t talked to Leon (Rose) and (William Wesley) and Scott (Perry), but I’m open to all that stuff,” Thibodeau said. “We like who he is so I want to get a chance to see him as well.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to watch him a lot. I’ve seen a little bit, but I’ve liked what I’ve heard and what I’ve seen in the reports. This summer, the offseason will be important.”
