The Knicks, losers of 12 of their last 15, are in desperate need of a boost heading into the All-Star break, and they could get one as soon as they return to action next week.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters before Wednesday's shocking loss to the shorthanded Nets that RJ Barrett, who has missed the last four games with a sprained ankle, should be ready to go when the Knicks take the floor again next Friday against the Heat.
"I do, yeah," Thibodeau said when asked if he expects Barrett to be back in the Knicks' first game back from the break. "He's pretty close, we just thought it was better right now to go into the break and give him the extra time."
Barrett suffered the injury in garbage time during a loss to the Nuggets on Feb. 8. He was still in the game with the Knicks down 17 in the final minute of play, as head coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters afterward that he wanted to try and mount a comeback with his starters after New York had cut the deficit to 13 earlier in the final period.
Prior to the injury, Barrett had been the Knicks' top offensive performer, averaging 22.5 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown over his last 19 games.
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