A dustup on the Knicks bench between RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin needed to be separated by Tom Thibodeau, who downplayed the incident as a traditional product of aggressive spirit.
“The cameras are everywhere. It probably happens more than people realize,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Heat of the moment. It dissipated immediately. If there’s a flare-up, go talk to each other. When they walked out together [on the court], I knew they were fine. And just move on. Win the game. When everyone wants to win, sometimes there’s a difference of opinion. Just put the team first and that’s what they did.”
TV cameras caught the tense change between teammates throughout a third-quarter timeout. It appeared Barrett was angered by one thing Toppin mentioned and stood as much as go at his teammate. Barrett was pulled away from the scene by assistant coach Johnnie Bryant.
Toppin and Barrett posed for photos collectively within the locker room postgame to display it was water underneath the bridge.
“We’re good. We see each other basically every day,” Barrett mentioned. “You tell me that you haven’t had an argument with a family member before. You know what I’m saying? You had an argument with a family member before. That was all it was. Right after the timeout we squashed it. I think he scored six straight points after that, so something worked.”
Still, Barrett didn’t wish to disclose what Toppin mentioned to set him off. The Knicks had been beating the Cavs by three factors when the incident occurred. They ultimately received, 130-116, though Toppin sat for your complete fourth quarter.
“That’s my brother,” Toppin mentioned of Barrett.
It was Toppin’s first begin of the season, the results of Julius Randle struggling a sprained ankle Wednesday. He completed with 12 factors in 19 minutes.
The second of anger was uncharacteristic from Barrett, who has simply eight techs in his profession. Earlier within the season, Toppin acquired right into a heated argument with assistant coach Rick Brunson.
Toppin had additionally brushed apart that incident, however it’s additionally clear he’s been pissed off by a scarcity of enjoying time this season.
“Whenever my name is called, I’m ready,” Toppin mentioned. “I’ll just do whatever the team needs me to do to win.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com