Knicks’ Cameron Payne provides ‘huge boost’ with rare scoring outburst

Sometimes, the minutes are infrequent for Cameron Payne. A few here and some others there. 

The role of Knicks backup point guard doesn’t exactly translate to frequent shots or glamorous moments on the court, given the presence of Jalen Brunson.

But during the Knicks’ 140-106 win against the Bucks on Sunday, Payne fell one point short of his season high with 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting — including 4-for-7 beyond the arc — in just 14 minutes, providing what Josh Hart described as a “huge boost” to help the Knicks snap a stretch of four losses across five games. 

“He’s someone who’s very capable of scoring the ball at a high level,” Hart said. “Obviously, playing behind JB, sometimes he doesn’t get those opportunities. But we know what he’s capable of, and that’s just gonna continue to fuel his confidence and our confidence in him.” 

Payne, a 30-year-old former first-round pick who signed a one-year deal, logged at least 20 minutes five times across the Knicks’ first 16 games, but that has happened just once since — Jan. 1, when both Brunson (calf) and Miles McBride (hamstring) were out with injuries.

Otherwise, Payne’s contributions have come in bursts.