With OG Anunoby's absence due to injury, Precious Achiuwa's performance and the emergence of rookie Ariel Hukporti highlight the Knicks' reliance on their bench.
Knicks forward Precious Achiuwa has been a valuable rotation player for the Knicks since being acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors last season. The 34-17 Knicks, at the No. 3 spot in the East, have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA . Two of their starters are All-Star starters this season. Knicks forwards OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, and guard Josh Hart, the team’s other three starters, are All-Star caliber players. However, the team’s bench isn’t as deep and versatile.
Forward Precious Achiuwa (19.9 minutes) and guard Miles “Deuce” McBride (23.3 mins) are the only Knicks reserves that average more than 15 minutes per game. Guards Cam Payne and Landry Shamet have been assigned limited roles. When Anunoby sprained his right foot versus the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday in a 128-112 loss, and missed Monday’s and Tuesday’s games versus the Houston Rockets at MSG and the Toronto Raptors on the road, Achiuwa replaced him in the starting lineup, further stress testing the Knicks bench.Achiuwa has played in every game this season, a notable milestone as he had only played in more than 70 games of the NBA’s 82-game regular season schedule just once in his career, appearing in 74 games during his 2017-18 rookie campaign. Achiuwa, who was traded to the Knicks with Anunoby from the Raptors last season for former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, has filled in solidly. He scored a season-high 17 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday in the Knicks’ 121-115 victory against the Raptors. Achiuwa augmented Brunson’s game-high 42 versus the Rockets and Towns’ 27 points and 20 rebounds against the Raptors. In the absence of Anunoby, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau called on 22-year-old rookie center Ariel Hukporti, who prior to Monday had played in just 17 games this season. Hukporti has forged ahead of center Jericho Sims on the depth chart and provided the Knicks quality minutes this week. He logged eight minutes against the Rockets and 19 versus the Raptors. “Great energy. That was the biggest thing,” said Brunson of Hukporti following the Rockets game. “Obviously, he is young and the flow of the game is different than he is used to, but he gave us great energy, good minutes. He used his fouls and made sure he was going to use them, but it was great energy for us.” Help may be coming soon as center Mitch Robinson has been cleared by Knicks medical staff for contact activities for the first time since undergoing left ankle surgery last May. But ahead of today’s 3 p.m. NBA trade deadline, unless a move is made or has been made prior to the deadline, the Knicks will host the East’s No. 2 seed Boston Celtics on Saturday at MSG and play the Indiana Pacers on the road next Tuesday.
NBA New York Knicks Precious Achiuwa OG Anunoby Ariel Hukporti Bench Depth Injury Trade Deadline
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Knicks Forward Precious Achiuwa Steps Up with Anunoby's AbsenceKnicks forward Precious Achiuwa has been a reliable contributor off the bench, but with OG Anunoby's injury, he's stepped into a starting role, proving his worth. The Knicks are testing the depth of their roster while hoping for reinforcements before the trade deadline.
Read more »
Precious Achiuwa could be a coveted trade deadline piece for KnicksPrecious Achiuwa has proven his value and versatility to the Knicks again this season and is also is an interesting name to watch ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
Read more »
Achiuwa Steps Up for Knicks Amidst Anunoby Absence and Trade ShockPrecious Achiuwa made an impact for the New York Knicks in the absence of OG Anunoby, showcasing his defensive prowess and energy. The team also reacted to the surprising Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers.
Read more »
Knicks vs. Pistons Predictions: Brunson and Towns Lead Knicks in High-Scoring BattleCan the Knicks keep their momentum going against the Pistons? This NBA matchup should be a high-scoring affair with both teams boasting offensive firepower.
Read more »
Knicks Worker Checks if Rim is Crooked After Mikal Bridges' ClaimMikal Bridges claimed the rim was askew during free throws, prompting an MSG worker to check its alignment. The rim was determined to be regulation, and the game continued. The Knicks won 143-120, boosted by Landry Shamet's shooting and Precious Achiuwa's defense.
Read more »
Algos Set to Fuel Precious Metals Rally, CTAs to Lead the ChargeAlgos are expected to play a crucial role in driving the rally in gold and silver. CTAs are anticipated to increase their long positions in gold, regardless of future price movements. This, coupled with algo-driven buying, is expected to be the next catalyst for extending the rally in precious metals.
Read more »