The Knicks' Julius Randle celebrates after drawing a foul late in the fourth quarter against the Pacers during an NBA game on Feb. 27 at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP/Elsa
While MVP chants rain down from the rafters at Madison Square Garden for Julius Randle and there have been more than a few for RJ Barrett, too, lately, Elfrid Payton’s name is usually raised only in pleas for Tom Thibodeau to remove him from the lineup and replace him with Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose or even little-used Frank Ntilikina.
But with RJ Barrett enduring an uncharacteristically empty offensive night Monday, it was Payton who picked up the slack, scoring 20 points to complement the 34 from Randle.