Under the bright lights of Los Angeles, playing on primetime television, RJ Barrett erupted for a career-high 36 points for the New York Knicks on Saturday. As the Lakers led by five with under a minute remaining, Barrett brought the Knicks back, first with a dunk and then with a three-pointer to tie the game and force overtime.

Though the Knicks would fall 122-115 in overtime behind a 29-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double from LeBron James, it was a statement performance for the 21-year-old Canadian who was the third pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Barrett finished with 36 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal in a game-high 50 minutes. He shot 13-for-28 from the floor and connected on 4-of-10 attempts from deep.

“I think he had 17 in the first quarter, if I’m not mistaken, and he hit some big-time shots down the stretch,” James said. “He just hit key shot after key shot tonight.”

The four-time NBA Champion and MVP has followed Barrett’s career since he was in high school. Knowing better than anyone what it is like to be drafted with great expectations, James spoke candidly about what he has seen from Barrett’s NBA career thus far.

“He’s young, so he’s going to have bumps and bruises throughout the course of [his] career. While you’re young, you’re figuring out the game, you’re figuring out the speed, you’re figuring out the tempo, things of that nature, but I think he’s handled it extremely well, especially being in a different light and a different heat, when you play for the Knicks, and I think he’s handled it extremely well.”

Barrett is averaging 17.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest through 46 games this season. He most recently suited up for Canada in the Senior Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria this past June.

A week after Andrew Wiggins was named as an All-Star starter the Golden State Warriors continue to roll. Winners of eight straight, the Warriors sit at 43-10 with the second-best record in the league behind the Phoenix Suns. In a 122-108 victory against the Houston Rockets, Wiggins finished with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes. He shot 8-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. Wiggins is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from three, both career-bests.

The New Orleans Pelicans have won three consecutive games and Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been doing his part. Alexander-Walker is averaging 12.8 points in his third NBA season. He had 14 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons, 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in a win against the Denver Nuggets and nine points in New Orleans’ 120-107 victory against the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

In Memphis, the Grizzlies continue to make their mark this season with a firm grasp on the third spot in the Western Conference with a 37-18 record. Though the Grizzlies have faced numerous injuries – Dillon Brooks remains sidelined with an ankle injury – and more than their share of health and safety protocol absences, the play of young phenom Ja Morant has made Memphis absolute must-see basketball this year.

Helping the Grizzlies to overcome those aforementioned obstacles has been the solid play of the team’s supporting cast, including Canadian Brandon Clarke. After averaging a season-high 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in the month of January, Clarke’s season averages are up to 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. Clarke had 10 points and seven rebounds in a victory against the Knicks, following that performance up with a 10-point, eight-rebound, three-assist effort in a blowout victory against the Orlando Magic.

Thunder forward Lu Dort missed the team’s most recent game, a loss to the Sacramento Kings, due to a nasal fracture. Though he is still listed as day-to-day as a result of the injury, Dort is coming off another big week as he helped Oklahoma City win three straight prior to the loss against Sacramento in his absence. Dort kicked off the week with an 18-point, six-rebound, three-assist performance in a 98-81 win against the Portland Trail Blazers, following that up with a 30-point effort in a huge 120-114 overtime win against the Dallas Mavericks. In the team's second meeting with the Blazers that week, Dort contributed 23 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot in a 96-93 Thunder victory.

Dort is averaging a career-best 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game in his third NBA season.

Back in the Eastern Conference, Raptors big man Chris Boucher had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double in a thrilling 127-120 overtime victory for the Toronto Raptors against the Chicago Bulls. He followed that up with 11 points and eight rebounds in a win against the Atlanta Hawks. The Raptors have won five straight and currently sit in sixth place in the East.

With the NBA trade deadline set for this Thursday, Feb. 10, this is sure to be another busy week in the NBA where the action never stops.