The New York Knicks have had their share of absences in the paint, two of their interior reserves came through big in Tuesday's win over the Brooklyn Nets.
With Isaiah Hartenstein's sore Achilles forcing him to sit out (ending a streak of 164 consecutive games played), the Knicks came to rely on Precious Achiuwa and Jericho Sims in the 108-103 victory. Sims got the start and earned six points, with four blocks and rebounds each in 27 minutes while Achiuwa tied with Julius Randle for the team lead with nine rebounds.
The Knicks (27-17) were also a plus-13 when Achiuwa was on the floor, best in the ball game. Four of Achiuwa's nine rebounds came in the final period, which saw New York outrebound Brooklyn 16-10 as they erased a nine-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to pick up their fourth straight win.
Randle referred to the unsung duo's contributions as "amazing." Tuesday night marked Sims' first extended action since last month's ankle injury and his first start since Dec. 18 while Achiuwa played at least 20 minutes in back-to-back games for the first time since he came over from Toronto in the OG Anunoby trade.
“Precious gave us big minutes. Jericho gave us big minutes, protecting the rim," Randle said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "Jericho was great protecting the rim in the first half. Precious just being in the right spots, getting us extra possessions rebounding the ball, defending guards, all that type of stuff. (That) gave us a lot of versatility.”
The Knicks have had to dig deep into interior depth this season with Mitchell Robinson nursing a long-term ankle injury and now Hartenstein's status in question. That could lead them to search for help on the trade block but Achiuwa and Sims have done a solid job of holding down the interior fort in the meantime.
Sims, Achiuwa, and the rest of the Knicks will be back in action on Thursday against the defending champion Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
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