RJ Barrett couldn't buy a bucket in the first half of Wednesday's crucial game against the Heat.
Through the first 24 minutes of game action at Madison Square Garden, Barrett shot 0-for-8 from the field, missed all four of his 3-point attempts, and was a -10 as the Knicks went into the locker room with a narrow two-point lead, while having lost their star in Julius Randle to a sprained ankle.
With Randle sidelined, New York needed a boost from Barrett, who came out in the second half looking like a different player. In just over 20 minutes of action, Barrett shot 4-for-5 from the floor, hitting both of his 3-point attempts, and was a +11 in an eventual 101-92 victory, the Knicks' biggest win of the season.
So, what changed for Barrett going into the second half?
"I changed my shoes," Barrett said.
"First pair weren't giving me what I need. I went back to my good luck shoes."
Whatever it was about those good luck shoes, it worked. Barrett scored five big points in the fourth quarter, which he played every second of, helping New York outscore Miami 25-16 in the final period to inch closer towards clinching a playoff berth.
Safe to say Barrett won't be wearing the shoes he had on in the first half any time soon.
"You know "Like Mike?" I had to put my Like Mike shoes on," Barrett said, referencing the movie with Lil Bow Wow that shows a boy gaining the powers of Michael Jordan by wearing an old pair of the GOAT's sneakers. "Helped me a little bit in the second half."
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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