When the The Philadelphia 76ers wanted a spark at occasions towards the New York Knicks within the 2024 NBA Playoffs, they bought one from veteran guard Cam Payne.
Within the first two video games towards the Knicks within the first spherical of the playoffs, Payne didn’t play greater than three minutes on the court docket. He didn’t play in any respect within the Sixers’ loss within the second recreation on the highway.
Nick Nurse seemed for a spark in Sport 3, and Payne bought one. As an alternative choice to almost 16 minutes, Payne made seven photographs from the sphere, together with 4 3-pointers. He knocked down all however one in all his long-range makes an attempt and produced 11 factors in a must-win recreation.
It looks like that recreation put Payne on the Knicks’ radar, and he by no means left.
“They stored telling me, ‘Oh man! You impressed us a lot in Sport 3! You helped them win that recreation.'” Payne stated Murray Ledger and Occasions“It is fairly cool to see how a recreation or a couple of possessions stick within the minds of groups. That is how I bought my contract.”
Payne completed the Sixers-Knicks sequence by scoring seven factors per recreation on 44 % three-point taking pictures over the past 4 conferences. The Knicks beat the Sixers in Philadelphia with a three-point victory in Sport 6.
After the sequence loss, Payne expressed curiosity in returning to the 76ers. His run with the crew has left extra to be desired, contemplating he joined them greater than midway by way of the 2023-24 common season.
After beginning the 12 months with 47 video games with the Milwaukee Bucks, Payne was included in a commerce on the deadline. The Sixers gave up Patrick Beverley within the deal. With Payne, they averaged 9 factors per recreation on 38 % taking pictures.
For the seventh time in his profession, Payne might be taking part in for a brand new crew. Becoming a member of the Knicks on a one-year deal, Payne is on the lookout for a key function on the Knicks’ second unit. With New York climbing the Jap Convention ladder in latest seasons, Payne and the Knicks might be a direct menace to Philadelphia’s title hopes subsequent 12 months.
