Cam Payne is finally out of the Knicks mix for Landry Shamet

On the night the Knicks finally added a new piece to their bench, second-unit guard Cam Payne enjoyed his best performance of the season

Payne, a former teammate of Landry Shamet in Phoenix, scored a season-high 19 points in Monday’s 139-125 win over the Raptors – including 11 that helped turn the game around in the second quarter alongside backup Miles McBride.

“I just came out aggressive and tried to change the pace of the game,” Payne said. “It’s kind of our work, kind of the things we do every time. We bring pace, we bring energy and it’s a whole different game when we come out.”

Payne, who averaged 7.5 points per game, made four three-pointers in the first half.

Knicks rookie guard Tyler Kolek was named MVP of the G-League Showcase after leading Westchester to the title over Sioux Falls with 22 points and 11 assists on Sunday night in Orlando, Florida.

Kolek, who appeared in 18 games for the Knicks this season, and fellow rookies Pacome Dadiet and Ariel Hukporti were recalled prior to Monday’s game against the Raptors.

“I like the fact that (Kolek) did it within a team concept, that he came in and made some threes, but also his playmaking was great,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Kolek, a second-round pick from Marquette. “I think it’s great, a great achievement. … It’s not easy for the guys who are up and down. Tyler had a great game, but they played as a team and that’s a great accomplishment. That’s why we’re really proud of them.”

Former Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley has been out for the Raptors since November 10th with a left elbow injury. RJ Barrett was also listed on the injury report as questionable due to an illness, but he was in the lineup and scored 23 points.

Barrett entered the game averaging a career-high 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

“NO. 1, he’s a great person, so it doesn’t surprise me, just the way he’s worked his entire career,” Thibodeau said. “If you’ve followed his progression from Duke to the pros, He’s gotten a lot better every year and he’s performed brilliantly in Toronto.

“He does a lot of things really well. He’s getting better and better and that’s not surprising at all.”