The New York Knicks are on a winning streak as they make their final playoff push, but the team continues to deal with player outbursts.
A pair of Knicks starters, RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin, had a heated exchange during Friday night’s 130-116 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During a timeout in the third quarter, they started yelling at each other. Head coach Tom Thibodeau tried to keep the players apart before other players quickly intervened.
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Obi Toppin of the New York Knicks during a game on March 31, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
After the match, Thibodeau tried to downplay the situation.
“Cameras are everywhere, and it probably happens more than people realize,” Thibodeau said. «It was the heat of the moment. It dissipated immediately. If there’s an outbreak, talk to each other. When you got out together, I knew you were okay.»
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«And just move on. Win the game. When everybody wants to win, sometimes there’s a difference of opinion. Just put the team first, and that’s what they did. Sometimes, there’s a difference of opinion, but those guys are fine with each other. These things happen.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Caris LeVert, right, goes to the basket around New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 31, 2023 in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Later, Toppin put his arm around Barrett in the Knicks’ locker room.
«This is my brother,» Toppin said. «We’re ok.»
Toppin finished the night with 12 points. Barrett scored 14 points in his 30 minutes.
New York Knicks’ RJ Barrett (9) handles the ball during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31, 2023 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)
The fight between Barrett and Toppin is not the first incident between Knicks teammates this season.
Last week, Knicks forward Julius Randle’s frustrations boiled over during a game against the Orlando Magic. After Randle didn’t get the foul call he wanted, he lashed out at the officials and his teammate Immanuel Quickley.
After a heated exchange, Randle finally parted ways with Quickley. But, the teammates continued to exchange words as they approached the locker room.
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Friday night’s win over Cleveland was the Knicks’ third straight. The Knicks (45-33) sit at No. 5 in the Eastern Conference standings with four games remaining in the regular season.
The Knicks are looking to clinch their first playoff berth since 2021.