The New York Knicks might have drafted their most prolific scorer in a long time, just in time to welcome a scoring machine who briefly plied his trade just miles away from Madison Square Garden.
RJ Barrett will look to build off a career-high performance when the Knicks host James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon.
Barrett’s 46 points weren’t enough on Friday for the host Knicks, who dropped a 115-100 decision to the Miami Heat.
Harden made his 76ers debut Friday night, when he recorded 27 points and 12 assists in Philadelphia’s 133-102 win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Barrett returned from a four-game absence due to a sprained left ankle and almost single-handedly lifted the Knicks past the Heat. The 21-year-old scored four points in a game-opening 10-0 run before he pumped in 19 consecutive points for New York over a span of 6:38 bridging the second and third quarters.
The 46 points shattered Barrett’s previous career high of 36, set Feb. 5 against…