Knicks Injuries: RJ Barrett DOUBTFUL For Sunday vs. Philadelphia

RJ Barrett's rollercoaster season with the New York Knicks has taken a bizarre twist.

Minutes before they tipped off against the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks announced that RJ Barrett would be doubtful for action due to an illness.

RJ Barrett (illness) is doubtful for tonight’s game.

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) February 5, 2023

The late break came minutes before tip-off against Philadelphia, a nationally-televised showdown already forced to buy time because the NFL's Pro Bowl Games ran late on broadcaster ESPN. Immanuel Quickley stepped into the lineup in Barrett's place.

A prior post on the Knicks' channels indicated that Barrett would be in the starting lineup on Sunday but he was instead a late scratch. This season, playing out after Barrett was bestowed a four-year, $107 million extension over the offseason, has been a rollercoaster and this week has perhaps been a microcosm of how it has gone. This week's efforts included a game-best 30-point effort on Thursday, one that helped guide the Kncks to a vital victory over the Miami Heat without Jalen Brunson, who was likewise held out with an illness that night. Alas, his defense and outside shooting has left much to be desired, the latter defined by going 1-of-16 from deep over the last three contests. The frustrations were further showcased when Barrett was held out of the final 11-plus minutes on Tuesday, when the Knicks fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime. 

Barrett previously missed six games in late December/early January with a finger injury sustained in the opening minute of a Dec. 27 showdown in Dallas. While many have assumed that he's a part of the Knicks' future, his name has linger in trade conversations leading up to Feb. 9's deadline.

Time will tell if Barrett is available for the Knicks' next contest, which comes in Orlando on Tuesday night (7 p.m. ET, MSG). 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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