Knicks Cameron Payne leaned into playoff experience to deliver late-game heroics
Experience at this time of year matters.The muscle memory of performing on the playoff stage is helpful.Look no further than Cam Payne for proof.He wasn’t even expected to be a major part of the Knicks playoff rotation.His first season in blue and orange was on the underwhelming side.But there he was Saturday night, instrumental in the game-turning 21-0 run that sent the Knicks to a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven, first-round playoff series.“I’ve been there before,” the 30-year-old Payne said.
“I know how the fourth quarter gets.”Payne hit some big shots against the Knicks a season ago in the postseason, as a member of the 76ers.He enjoyed some big moments in the playoffs earlier in his career with the Suns.In the 2021 postseason, he was a key part of the Phoenix bench during its run to the NBA Finals, averaging 9.3 points per game and scoring 29 points in one Western Conference finals game when starting point guard Chris Paul was sidelined.The stage clearly doesn’t faze him.
It didn’t against the Pistons, Payne scoring 11 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, making two monster 3–pointers.“He’s someone who thrives in adverse situations.I think we saw it all year,” Josh Hart said.
“We saw it last year in the playoffs, I think it was Game 3, he came in for Philly and changed the trajectory of that game and they won.Foolishly, they didn’t play him enough in that series.”Landry Shamet was supposed to be ahead of Payne in the bench pecking order.But he struggled in the first half and coach Tom Thibodeau went with Payne in the second half.
Payne delivered, and not just on the offensive end.He helped force a five-second violation to start the period, which several Knicks said was key to their outstanding finish on the defensive end.
They forced a turnover on the next Pistons possession and held them to 21 points in the quarter.“That’s who he’s been since I’ve seen him play.I think the best thing that a player can have, in what...