Duke basketball: RJ Barrett bows out of playoffs with ugly performance

Duke basketball standout RJ Barrett bowed out of the playoffs with a poor showing. 

It was an ugly departure from the NBA Playoff for former Duke basketball standout RJ Barrett and the New York Knicks after an incredible season.

The Knicks, behind the strong play of Barrett, won a playoff series for the first time in a decade and many had predicted them to advance passed the Miami Heat and into the Eastern Conference Finals.

However, the Heat proved that they are not a typical 8-seed, again, in its upset of New York.

RJ Barrett helped the Knicks fend off elimination in Game 5 behind a 26-point showing, tying his single game high this postseason, on 8-of-17 shooting along with seven rebounds and two assists.

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Barrett did not have the same success in Game Six after he managed just 11 points on 1-of-10 shooting in 32 minutes.

The former Blue Devil saw nine of his 11 points come at the free throw line while he only gathered two rebounds and an assist while committing five fouls and three turnovers.

Through the first five games of the series, Barrett shot 46.5-percent from the field and averaged 22.8 points per game.

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Friday night in Miami was the worst game of the postseason for RJ Barrett since Game One of the opening round against the Cleveland Cavaliers in which he had just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Barrett, in his second postseason, averaged 19.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 43.3-percent from the floor and 32.8-percent from 3-point range.

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RJ Barrett’s name is certain to appear in offseason trade rumors as the Knicks look to add a proven superstar in the trade market to compliment Jalen Brunson.

The Knicks were, reportedly, unwilling to part with Barrett last offseason in a potential trade for Utah Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell, who eventually was traded to the Cavaliers.