A Duke basketball player holds bragging right over his Blue Devil teammate.
For the second time this week, Duke basketball teammates RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson battled each other in the NBA.
Williamson did not see the floor against the New York Knicks (31-27) due to injury last season, and the highly anticipated matchup between the college basketball superstars first took place on April 14.
Barrett’s Knicks defeated Williamson’s Pelicans (25-32), 116-106, but it was Zion who had the better performance as the former No. 1 overall pick went for 25 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal, and two blocks on 10-of-19 shooting.
RJ Barrett struggled, finishing with just six points on 2-of-10 shooting in addition to four rebounds, one assist, two steals, and one block.
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As Barrett got the last laugh with the victory, neither player had to wait long for the rematch as New Orleans traveled to Madison Square Garden on April 18 for a Sunday matinee.
Both players had much better individual performances, but it was Williamson who led the charge once again with 34 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals on 13-of-23 shooting from the field.
Despite the jaw-dropping numbers from Zion, it was RJ Barrett’s Knicks who emerged victorious again, 122-112 in overtime.
Barrett poured in 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting with four rebounds and two assists but fouled out in 36 minutes of action.
Duke basketball teammates trying to reach postseason
Preseason expectations have the New York Knicks and New Orleans Pelicans going in opposite directions as the Knicks continue to climb in the Eastern Conference while the Pelicans are clinging to their playoff hopes in the loaded Western Conference.
New York is currently the No. 6 seed in the East, a half-game behind the Boston Celtics (31-26) for the No. 5 seed and one and a half games ahead of the Miami Heat (29-28) for the No. 7 seed.
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New Orleans trails the San Antonio Spurs (27-28) by three games for the coveted No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.
Neither Zion Williamson nor RJ Barrett experienced the NBA Playoffs in their rookie seasons, but both players will return to the court on Tuesday, April 20 as the Pelicans host the Brooklyn Nets (38-19) and the Knicks host the Charlotte Hornets (28-28).