RJ Barrett

Knicks’ RJ Barrett powers Canada over Greece, Rick Pitino left impressed

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new york knicks, rj barrett

RJ Barrett led Canada’s big second-half surge to open their Olympic quest with a 97-91 win over Greece Tuesday in Victoria, B.C.

The New York Knicks’ vastly improved wing poured 19 points in the second half, including 12 in the final quarter.

A Barrett three-point play with 4:22 left gave the Canadians a 12-point spread, 91-79. But the hard-fighting Greeks who missed Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo came within four with under a minute left.

Barrett hit two clutch free throws with 34.5 seconds left that sealed their opening victory in one of the four Olympic Qualifiers.

Barrett, who celebrated his 21st birthday in quarantine while training for this tournament, finished with 22 points. He shot 8-of-14 from the field though he missed five of six three-point attempts. A much-improved free throw shooter this season in the NBA, Barrett went 5-for-7 from the line. He also had five rebounds and three assists in almost 30 minutes of play.

Rick Pitino, a former Knicks coach who is now mentoring the Greeks’ Olympics quest, was left impressed.

“RJ Barrett in college couldn’t really shoot a 12-foot shot and I absolutely love players that work at their game and get better… I’m obviously a big Knicks fan so I’m a big RJ fan, but the fact that he’s improved so much is amazing to me,” Pitino said in the postgame, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.

Barrett was tentative in the first half, feeling his way with this newly-formed Canadian team filled with NBA players.

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins led all scorers with 23 points while New Orleans Pelicans’ guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 18, doing most of the damage in the first half.

Barrett took over in the second half repeatedly attacking the rim.

“It was kind of everywhere, but we did a good job of figuring it out,” Barrett said.

Five Greeks scored in double figures led by Konstantinos Mitoglou but it was not enough. Kostas Antetokounmpo, Giannis’ younger brother who is a two-way player for the Los Angeles Lakers, scored four points in limited action off the bench.

Barrett will try to lead Canada to a sweep of their group against China tomorrow to advance to the semifinals.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: Is RJ Barrett the future or a trade piece this offseason?

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new york knicks, nyk, rj barrett

The New York Knicks have a few big decisions to make this off-season, ranging from parting ways with valuable resources to acquire a star via trade, or rolling with the assets they currently have on hand.

With plenty of youth players and draft picks available, there is the potential for president Leon Rose to package a few together and target a player like Damian Lillard, but the Knicks could easily sit still, spending $60+ million in free agency and still have an improved team in 2022.

With the expectation that Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, Frank Ntilikina, and Taj Gibson will all hit the open market, the Knicks will be looking to roll over their salaries to other players and having multiple options like Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul, Spencer Dinwiddie, and much more for the taking, it might be beneficial to allocate the resources more strategically.

On the off chance that the Knicks look to acquire a big-name like Lillard, Portland could demand RJ Barrett in return, to go along with a bevy of draft selections. Question is, should the Knicks be willing to give away Barrett in the scenario, or should they stick with him long-term given his development last season?

What did Barrett offer the Knicks during the 2020-21 season?

Barrett averaged 17.6 points, 3.0 assists, 5.8 total rebounds, and shot .441 from the field and .401 from three-point last season. He saw his three-point percentage increase by .80%, which is an astronomical number for a player who isn’t known to thrive in that category. Considering he was attempting 4.3 shots per game from beyond the arc, hitting 40% was incredible and should give the Knicks’ coaching staff plenty of optimism for the future.

Barrett is headed into the third year of his contract and will be paid $8.6 million. The team has an option during the 2022-23 season for $10.9 million and a qualifying offer they can enable during the 2023-24 season at $14.3 million.

Considering RJ is just 20 years old and effectively has three years left on his deal, his potential is sky-high, so parting ways with him would be inadvisable, even if it meant acquiring Lillard in the process.

There were stretches during the most recent campaign where Barrett looked like a star alongside Julius Randle, and with plenty of free agents available to fill the point guard spot, Barrett doesn’t need to be a number two right away. They can find adequate talent to give Barrett more space to grow without the lofty expectations.

Consider this, Barrett is one of only eight players in NBA history to record more than 2000 points, 500 rebounds, and 300 assists before turning 21 years old. For goodness sake, the kid can’t even buy an alcoholic drink legally yet and is making an impact on the biggest sports stage in the world.

Other positives that come to mind include consistent defense, durability, and remaining confident during cold streaks. He increased his minutes to 35 compared to 30 in his rookie season, finishing second in the entire NBA in total minutes, behind only teammate Julius Randle.

Barrett scored less than 10 points in just 18% of games this year, but scored 20+ points in 46%, compared to 23% last year. The big question is, is his shooting sustainable and can he continue to improve that category? As long as things progress nicely, Barrett will inevitably become a key factor for the Knicks on both sides of the ball. Trading him away would be utterly foolish, and something the old management might do.

Providing the starting five with more talent and taking pressure off RJ will contribute toward his growth — which should be a priority.

Hawks back up talks, send Knicks to vacation

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RJ Barrett guaranteed a New York Knicks win. But it was Clint Capela and the Atlanta Hawks who walked the talk.

Capela had a monster double-double while Trae Young had another masterclass. The Hawks methodically wore down the Knicks, who were running on empty gas.

New York once again faded down the stretch as Atlanta ended the Knicks’ fairytale season with a dominant 103-89 win Wednesday night at The Garden.

True to his promise, Capela had a big hand in sending the Knicks to an early vacation. He dominated the paint with 14 points and 15 rebounds that complemented Young’s 36-point, 9-assist performance.

The Knicks had simply no answer.

It was the Hawks’ young core who shone under the bright lights of the playoffs.

Young averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists in a rousing playoff debut. He joined Michael Jordan as the only Knicks opponent who scored three straight 30-point games at the Madison Square Garden in the playoffs, per ESPN Stats & Info.

“I texted him before the playoffs started and told him he’s built for this time of the season with the confidence he brings to the floor, his skill level for scoring the basketball and creating opportunities,” Atlanta interim coach Nate McMillan said. “It’s really tough to game plan against him.”

Young silenced the Knicks crowd with his stellar play. He was never rattled and showed the poise of a superstar.

De’Andre Hunter, listed as probable to play, added 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor. John Collins chipped in 13 points while Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter combined for 17 points.

Julius Randle led the Knicks with 23 and 13 rebounds. But he was only 8-for-21. And worst, he committed eight turnovers.

If Young’s playoff debut was spectacular, Randle had the exact opposite. He was a flop. After a regular season that saw him rise to a first-time All-Star and the hands-down Most Improved Player of the Year, Randle shrunk in the big moments.

He couldn’t shake off the Hawks’ defensive schemes and missed the tough jumpers he routinely made throughout the regular season. He went 28-for-94 and had more turnovers (23) than assists (20) in the series.

“It’s tough for me to process that right now the way things ended, but we’ll be back,” Randle said.

It will be interesting to see how he will approach the summer where he is eligible for an extension after his underwhelming playoff performance.

The Knicks could offer Randle a four-year, $106 million extension, but he could earn a more lucrative contract in 2022 free agency if he can rise from this playoff debacle.

Barrett, who snapped back at New York Post’s Marc Berman hours before tip-off, bled for 17 points on 14 shots. Derrick Rose silently battled a nagging injury and played his worst game of the series with just six points on 3-of-11 shooting.

It was the Knicks’ fifth exit in their last six playoffs opener. Their only win came in 2013 when a Carmelo Anthony-led Knicks team tossed the Boston Celtics in six games.

Michael Vandegarde, a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers scout for 18 years and now a consultant to multiple NBA teams, told Empire Sports Media before the series started that the Hawks have more than enough firepower to overwhelm the Knicks.

It did.

But despite the early playoff exit, the Knicks were ahead of their rebuilding schedule.

Tom Thibodeau was able to squeeze 41 wins from a core tipped to compete for the lottery instead of the playoffs. Oddsmakers pegged them as a 22.5-win team, but they have overachieved and broke the franchise’s seven-year playoff drought.

Thibodeau successfully hid his team’s lack of elite firepower by building a stout defense anchored on Randle’s rise as an All-Star and the team’s collective effort. But in the playoffs, their foundation collapsed with Randle.

“I told our guys this, I’m proud of what our team accomplished this year,’’ Thibodeau said. “Obviously disappointed with the result tonight. Hopefully, we can learn and get better from it. But I thought our guys gave us everything they had all year long. I’m very proud of them. Hopefully, we can take this and use it as motivation for the work we have to get done in the summer in preparation for next year.’’

The game was close in the first half as emotions ran high. Taj Gibson jawed at the Hawks after a rebound scramble. Randle, Nerlens Noel, and Atlanta’s veteran Solomon Hill earned a technical foul each after a heated moment before the break.

Randle sparked the fracas after throwing the ball on Young, who was down on the floor right before the halftime buzzer. Noel gave Young a shoulder bump on their way to their locker rooms. Hill pushed Noel, and the two players had to be separated.

Randle started the third quarter with a three-pointer as the Knicks cut the Hawks’ lead to three, 53-50, but it proved to be their last gallant stand.

Atlanta responded with a 13-4 run. The Knicks shot a woeful 5-of-18 shooting in that pivotal third quarter that did them in.

The Hawks advanced to the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers, who eliminated the Washington Wizards in five games on the same night.

Meanwhile, the Knicks head to the offseason with four draft picks (19th, 21st, 32nd, and 58th) and up to $50 million cap space.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

The New York Knicks will lose the series to Atlanta unless one player steps up

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new york knicks, julius randle

The New York Knicks were embarrassed by the Atlanta Hawks on Friday evening, losing by 11 points, as the entire starting Hawks team earned double-digit points.

Of course, Trae Young was their catalyst at offense, scoring 21 points and recording a game-high 14 assists, showcasing his ability to spread the ball around the floor efficiently. Nonetheless, there’s no real way to stop Young but rather limit him and mitigate his influence on the game.

The issue the Knicks are currently facing is:

While Atlanta’s star player is balling out, All-Star Julius Randle simply hasn’t been able to replicate his regular-season performance. Randle scored just 14 points in the loss at Atlanta, shooting 2-of-15 from the field, missing open shots, and making poor decisions. It is clear when watching Randle move lately, he doesn’t have the same confidence and isn’t taking the same high percentage shots.

“They’re loaded up pretty good,” Thibodeau said. “It’s not just the second guy, it’s the third guy also. So when that happens, the big thing is to get rid of the ball, make plays early. When you do that, usually you can get really high percentage shots off of that. And with your primary scorers, that’s what you want.”

Essentially, the Knicks need to be more communicative and efficient with the ball in their hands, matching Atlanta’s best players and then taking advantage of their reserves. Unfortunately, Atlanta has been able to rest a majority of their starters throughout the game, as the Knicks compile fatigue with their primary options against backup Hawks.
If the Knicks want any chance of extracting a win on Sunday, it must be through Randle; he disappointed significantly during his first-ever postseason series.
Veteran point guard Derrick Rose has carried the load, scoring 30 points on 13-of-21 shooting and connecting on three 3-PT point shots out of five attempts. While his defense was spotty given the uneven match-up between him and Young, his offensive production has helped keep the Knicks in the picture.
The unfortunate truth is that if Randle and RJ Barrett don’t step up and take over in game four, the Knicks will likely see an early exit in their first postseason series since 2013. Whether it be the energy of the crowd that is overwhelming, we know they can play better basketball than what they’ve produced lately. It feels as though they aren’t enjoying the process as they were during their 10 game win streak a few weeks ago.

Former Knicks’ head coach Mike Woodson raves about team’s progression, RJ Barrett

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New york Knicks, Mike Woodson

The New York Knicks are just one day away from facing off against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday evening in their opening series of the postseason. The Knicks have enjoyed the week off to gather their strength and prepare mentally for their first appearance in the postseason since 2013.

The progress this team has made in just one season has been tremendous, thanks to Tom Thibodeau and Julius Randle. However, we shouldn’t discount the chemistry between the players, the performance of Derrick Rose, and the development of second-year shooting guard RJ Barrett. One former Knicks coach had nothing but great things to say about Barrett and the current state of the team.

SNY’s Ian Begley interviewed Mike Woodson, the Knicks’ former HC, to discuss the development of the team and especially RJ Barrett:

“The chemistry is fantastic because you haven’t had any issues off the floor or on the floor. They don’t fight amongst each other on the floor; they push each other, they’re all positive. It’s just a solid group of guys that’s been assembled in New York this year, solid.”

Woodson left the Knicks to become the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men’s team. As a 10 year veteran in the NBA and spending the last few years as a coach at the NBA level, he was ready to make the shift and take on a new challenge.

Mike spoke specifically about RJ Barrett, who has experienced major progress this year with his shooting. He’s averaging 17.6 points per game, an increase of 3.3 compared to his rookie season. He also has made a jump in rebounds at 5.8, assists, 3.0, and is shooting .441 from the field. His most impressive statistic, though, has been the improvement of his three-point shooting, currently hitting on .401 of shots over 4.3 attempts per game.
“He’s made a major, major jump. Johnny (Bryant)’s worked with him some and he’s made the leap. Everyone was questioning and doubting him coming into the season, saying he can’t shoot. And he proved them wrong. But there’s always another level. Is he there yet? No, he’s not there. But he’s headed in the right direction, I’ll tell you that.”
Barrett has been a catalyst for the Knicks on offense this year, and his chemistry with Randle has proved to be one of the main factors behind their success. As long as Randle is drawing attention and healthy, Barrett continues to feed in the corners as one of the best shooters in the league from the baseline.
New York will need both Julius and RJ to be playing at their peak potential as they prepare for the Hawks on Sunday.

Tom Thibodeau: Knicks’ RJ Barrett is going to be a special player

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The sigh of relief quickly turned into excitement when the buzzer sounded at The Garden on Sunday, signaling New York Knicks return to the playoffs after seven dreadful seasons.

RJ Barrett’s 22 points were enough to withstand the Boston Celtics stringers’ late charge to pull off their 41st win of the season. A 20-win jump from last season in which Barrett got snubbed from the All-Rookie Team.

The sophomore wing responded with a giant stride that helped the Knicks’ playoff drive this season.

“It’s great to have brought Knicks fans what they want, brought them back to the playoffs,” Barret said after the Knicks’ regular-season finale.

Julius Randle takes much of the credit for being the engine of this surprising Knicks team, and rightfully so. But beneath his wing is Barrett, who followed his lead and learned to spread his own wings.

There was trepidation that he’d turn into a bust after an uneven rookie season. But Barrett used that as motivation.

He returned this season determined to prove his doubters wrong.

The 2019 NBA Draft was widely believed to yield two superstars on top — Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. Barrett wasn’t even a consensus choice behind the two rookie studs. But Knicks’ GM Scott Perry had a feeling that Barrett is cut in the same cloth and shunned offers to trade down.

Barrett is proving Perry right.

The former Duke star has outraced his more illustrious Draft classmates — Williamson and Morant — in reaching the playoffs.

“This is something I envisioned. This is something I wanted to do,” Barrett said. “I’ve always said I’m a winner. I had a feeling that I’ll be a part of a multiple playoff team.”

All signs point toward that direction. There’s confidence around the league that the Knicks can sustain this newfound success with a new culture in place, synergy in the organization, and large cap space.

Barrett’s rapid improvement is one of the big reasons why the Knicks are ahead of their timeline.

Barrett didn’t miss a game and placed second in the league in minutes played next to Randle. He finished the regular season averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in joining Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Williamson as the only NBA players under 21 who have achieved that feat. But what stood out was his outside shot that was deemed as his weakness even in college.

With the help of his long-time trainer Drew Hanlen, he widened his stance and corrected his hand position and shooting motion.

The result was an unbelievable 8-percent jump in his three-point shooting clip. Barrett is now shooting 40.1 percent of his 3s. He just became the third player aged 20 and under in the NBA history who has shot over 40 percent of his 3s with at least 125 3-pointers. The other two on the list are Bradley Beal and Mike Miller.

Barrett has complemented Randle well as a solid catch-and-shoot threat. He’s one of the five Knicks’ players shooting at least 40 percent from 3.

“When you look at a guy like RJ Barrett, and he’s only 20 years old, and the way he’s playing and the way he’s growing, I think he’s going to be a special player in this league,” Tom Thibodeau said on Tuesday at the Breakfast Club.

Barrett has drawn comparisons to Thibodeau’s former player Jimmy Butler, who blossomed into one of the league’s stars. But unlike Butler, who was a late bloomer, Barrett has been afforded with opportunity right away. And he’s not shying away from the challenge.

Barrett’s mental makeup is a big part of his major turnaround.

“I had an opportunity to coach with coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) with the Team USA. And when I got hired, I talked to him and learned about RJ,” Thibodeau revealed.

“Everything that he told me about him has been true. His commitment to the team. His commitment to work — how he wanted to learn, how he wanted to grow. Usually, when you get those types of guys, and he’s a gym rat, those guys always get better. He’s driven to succeed.”

Barrett is just starting to scratch his potential. According to Hanlen, Barrett’s next step in his learning curve is to develop a three-point shot off the dribble.

But more than his rapidly developing outside shooting, Thibodeau sees the overall value of Barrett as his true gift.

“He’s put a lot of time into his game. It’s an all-around game that he develops. He drives the ball, pick and roll, he makes plays. Defensively, he really challenges shots; he rebounds the ball. So he’s a complete player, an all-around player. I think he’s got a huge upside,” Thibodeau said.

With Randle expected to draw much of the Atlanta Hawks’ attention on defense, Barrett has the chance to become this playoff’s breakout star.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Windhorst: ‘Scott Perry will be around Knicks longer’

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New York Knicks

New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry started the NBA season on shaky ground. But along with Julius Randle and the Knicks’ rise, Perry is believed to have found his solid footing on the new regime.

ESPN’s NBA Insider Brian Windhorst posited on his podcast that Knicks team president Leon Rose would retain Perry on Tuesday.

“Scott Perry only got a one-year contract extension,” Windhorst said on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast.

“I think someone should want to hire him,” his guest, ESPN’s The Jump host Ramona Shelburne replied.

“I’ll get in trouble for saying this because it will get aggregated, but I hear Scott Perry will be around the Knicks longer,” said Windhorst. “He will be. I hear it is all going to be worked out.”

Perry is a remnant of the Steve Mills era. But he’s not at all a stranger to the new regime. He has prior connections with the Knicks’ current team executive vice president and Rose’s senior advisor William Wesley.

The two executives have known each other since Perry’s days with the Detroit Pistons in the early 2000s. Wesley has become an influential figure in the Pistons’ locker room, being Rip Hamilton’s confidant and a close friend of coach Larry Brown.

While Perry was there, he helped the Pistons build a consistent playoff roster that went to the Eastern Conference Finals six times and won an NBA championship in 2004 under Brown.

Before this season, Perry’s future with the team was murky.

But to Perry’s credit, as Shelburne discussed on the Windhorst’s podcast, he was responsible for pivoting quickly to Randle after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving spurned the Knicks.

Perry locked up Randle to a team-friendly deal, and his gamble paid off.

Randle has emerged as an All-Star this season, leading the surprising Knicks to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. He is the favorite to win the Most Improved Player of the Year and a cinch to be selected in one of the three All-NBA teams at the end of the season.

Perry has also stuck to his guns during the 2019 NBA Draft picking RJ Barrett with the third overall pick despite some quarters in the Knicks organization wanting to trade down and pick up additional draft assets in return.

After an All-Rookie Team snub last season, Barrett bounced back and has added an outside shot to his developing all-around game that has become vital in Knicks’ success this season.

He also signed Reggie Bullock and Marcus Morris and flipped him for a first-round pick that eventually became Immanuel Quickley.

Perry was also responsible for drafting Mitchell Robinson in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft and locking him up to a team-friendly contract. But he also had his shares of misses, like picking Kevin Knox over Mikal Bridges, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Michael Porter, Jr, and hiring Dave Fizdale over Mike Budenholzer.

Before coming to New York in 2017, Perry also had stints with Orlando — where he drafted Victor Oladipo, Aaron Godron, current Knick Elfrid Payton, former Knick Mario Hezonja, — and the Kings after his first stop in Detroit.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks players speak out about upcoming postseason series and what to expect

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new york knicks, knicks, nyk

The New York Knicks cemented themselves in the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference with a tight win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday afternoon. After leading by 17 points in the fourth quarter, Boston charged their way back, pulling the games within one point in the final moments. However, the Knicks extracted the victory, which was their ultimate goal despite a solid effort by Boston.

The Celtics were strung out with a series of injuries prior to the contest, and the Knicks nearly losing this game against reserve options was a bad sign as they prepare to take on the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs next weekend.

However, the Knicks are excited and motivated for the games ahead, as RJ Barrett and Derrick Rose made post-game comments regarding their home-court advantage and feeling toward this accomplishment.

“It feels amazing, especially doing it with a group of guys who were here last year through some tough times,” said RJ Barrett. “We were able to turn the program around and we have a bunch of new pieces. That’s really what it is — how we worked hard after nobody really gave us a shot. But we’re here.”

If you were to tell me that the Knicks would’ve been a 40+ one team and have home-court advantage in the postseason at the beginning of the year, I would’ve called you crazy. Thanks to fantastic chemistry and leadership across the board, this team has smashed through expectations with ease and represents a formidable opponent that won’t be pushed over by other playoff teams.

Veteran Derrick Rose does understand that the mentality and quality of basketball will change next weekend, and he’s preparing for that reality.

“The intensity is going to change, and we’ve just got to go all out,” Rose said. “We know how big (Games 1 and 2) are with them playing in our house, and we’ve got to take care of these two games and play as hard as we can, and we’ll deal with it game by game but we’ve got to take care of the first one first.”

Rose hit it right on the head — the Knicks must take care of business to open the series, securing an early lead and demoralizing their opponent. Playing suffocating basketball is what they’re good at, but also hitting consistent three-pointers and keeping the turnovers to a minimum is a priority. Thibodeau will have his team disciplined and ready after a week off, and luckily the majority of their players are 100% healthy and ready to go.

Knicks News: RJ Barrett details how team is commanding ‘respect’ from opponents

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new york knicks, rj barrett

The New York Knicks have been an entirely different team this year under new head coach Tom Thibodeau, but without several key pieces, they would be dead in the water. All-Star Julius Randle has played a significant part in the success of the team this season, but his counterpart, RJ Barrett, should also be respected as a productive player.

The Knicks currently sit in the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference as they prepare to take on the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday afternoon. If they can win their next two games and Miami or Atlanta lose, they can improve their ranking despite already having a guaranteed spot in the postseason.

However, this team is commanding attention and respect from opponents around the NBA. After being a pushover in recent years, the Knicks have taken on an aggressive style of defense, utilizing a hostile and energized style of play. Barrett raved about his current squad and how much they’ve accomplished this year so far.

“Most definitely, you can see there’s a different level of respect [for the Knicks],” Barrett said Friday on “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio. “Teams have to come in and bring their best, teams have to come in and play hard. Most definitely, you can tell that. We have a really good record at home, at the Garden, with our fans, and it’s really tough to come in there and get a win. So you definitely can see that teams respect us a lot more.”

One factor to consider is the influence of fans at MSG and how energizing they can be for the team. The Knicks, comparably, aren’t the most talented team, but their mentality and chemistry have seen them blossom into something different.

“Man, I think we would’ve had an even better record than we do right now,” Barrett said. “Those fans at the Garden really get you going, it’s really an incredible place. The Mecca of Basketball, best arena I’ve ever played in. I love the Garden and I hope that I’m here for the rest of my career.”

Barrett is shooting 45% from corner-threes and has experienced massive growth in the shooting department. The Knicks are going to need him to play efficient and consistent basketball once the postseason commences.

Knicks keep up in race for No.4 with comeback win over Spurs

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The New York Knicks are already in the playoffs, but they just don’t want to crash the party. They want to host a first-round series for their fans.

With Miami (39-31) and Atlanta (40-41) costing to easy victories earlier, there was immense pressure in New York. And with their backs against the wall, the Knicks delivered just like they always did for the most part of the season.

Down 17 late in the third quarter, RJ Barrett rediscovered his shooting touch as the Knicks turned back San Antonio Spurs, 102-98, Thursday night to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish.

“We definitely want that fourth seed,” Barrett said. “We want that homecourt (advantage).”

Barrett waxed hot with 12 points in a 21-2 Knicks run, bridging the last 3:45 of the third quarter and the first minute of the fourth period.

Alec Burks punctuated that run with a 3, finishing off what Barrett has started.

Burks scored 16 of his season-high 30 points in the fourth quarter. There was no sign of rust in his return from a three-game layoff due to contused knee. His three-pointer with 3:16 remaining broke the 90-deadlock. He hit another one to extend the Knicks’ lead to four after a DeMar DeRozan basket.

Burks’ explosion off the bench cushioned the impact of Derrick Rose‘s absence. Rose (ankle), who played a season-high 39 minutes in their previous game, was a late scratch. But Tom Thibodeau later revealed it’s nothing serious.

“[He] just needed a day [off],” Thibodeau said about Rose’s situation. “It’s day-to-day. We knew we’re getting a couple of guys back. So we thought it would be good to give him a rest.”

They almost regret it with the Spurs staggering them behind DeRozan’s sweet midrange game and Dejounte Murray hunting the Knicks’ backcourt.

Then Barrett decided to take over and kept the Knicks’ homecourt bid alive.

”He hit big shot after big shot to help make up ground for us,” Thibodeau said of Barrett’s bounce-back performance. 

Julius Randle clocked in his usual all-around game (25 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists) and knocked down a clutch jumper with 56.4 seconds left for a 98-94 Knicks’ cushion.

After Keldon Johnson’s three-point play closed the gap, 98-97, Burks and Barrett sealed the win with four free throws.

Barrett finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to bounce back from his eight-point dud against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was 5-for-9 from the three-point zone.

Burks added 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.

”He’s like a swiss-army knife. We could use him in multiple positions. You can run him to catch-and-shoot. He can run the pick-and-roll. He can post up. There are so many things you can do with him. And he fits wherever you want. He can start or play with the bench,” Thibodeau said of Burks. 

Taj Gibson was also exceptional off the bench as he tallied nine rebounds, four blocks, and six points in 22 minutes.

“We have the right veterans. Those guys have been great for our young guys. They made this team function at a very high level,” Thibodeau said.

Aside from minor hiccups, the Knicks have been playing their best basketball in the homestretch.

They are looking to sweep their back-to-back matinee games against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday and Boston Celtics on Sunday while hoping for a Heat loss to jump back to No. 4. But on top of that, they aim to stay sharp as they brace for their first playoffs appearance in eight years. 

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo