Magic Johnson praises ‘reserved’ unsung hero for New York Knicks after clutch win over Detroit Pistons

Magic Johnson had a lot of praise for a player not usually featured by the New York Knicks who stepped up for them against the Pistons. The New York Knicks escaped with a big win over the Detroit Pistons tonight. The Knicks looked to be rattled at the Garden in the early going.

But as things came down to the wire, the Knicks would rely on their experience to get them the win. In the end, the Pistons found the lights to be just a little too bright. The Knicks will hope that this 1-0 lead in the series over the Pistons will mark the beginning of the end of their first-round encounter.



But for all the praise the superstars and starters get, there is one star who stepped up when the chips were down. Magic Johnson applauds Cameron Payne Taking to X after the game, Magic Johnson had a lot of praise for New York Knicks guard Cameron Payne . He noted that Payne, whom he called a reserve guard, delivered 11 crucial points to help the Knicks get the all-important win.

“Reserved guard Cameron Payne was the big reason the Knicks won. His 11 points sealed their victory!” Clearly, Johnson, an elite point guard during his time, loved what he saw from Payne, the back-up guard for the Knicks. The Knicks will be hoping Cameron Payne can continue performing at this level for the rest of the playoffs .

His Game 1 outing was absolutely spectacular. New York Knicks looking to seal playoff win The New York Knicks have had a wretched season. It’s hard to believe that when they won 50+ games this season.

But compared to the expectations around them early in the season, they have vastly underdelivered as a team. The Knicks have yet to score a win over the Thunder , Cavaliers , or Celtics . For a potential contender, this is unacceptable.

Right now, Tom Thibodeau must use the playoffs to help the Knicks regain their confidence. Otherwise, they’re staring at their third consecutive second-round exit this year. This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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