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Cameron Payne · By the bitter end of their opening-round clash against the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons were offered a harsh-as-can-be reminder of who 2024-25’s Clutch Player of the Year was. Long before those game-clinching fireworks were lit, though, Cameron Payne provided confirmation that his backup wasn’t too shabby in crunchtime, either. Once upon a time a bucket-getting, spark plug for an NBA Finals runner-up, Payne creates a new postseason memory, first by providing an outlet for his doubled and trapped All-Star teammate. As if moving to the rhythm of Madison Square Garden’s trademark organ, Payne moves fearlessly against Cade Cunningham, pairing his double stepback with a 3-point bucket to extend New York’s once-unlikely lead. At the fourth quarter’s nine-and-a-half minute mark, New York trailed 98-90 before Payne’s heroics encouraged a game-shifting 21-0 run. Scoring at nearly a point-per-minute pace, Payne brought the pain in the form of 14 points (11 in the final frame), alongside a steal and three trifectas off the bench. · State of Mint