Knicks backup big men come up big in Isaiah Hartenstein’s absence
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Isaiah Hartenstein’s Iron Man streak is officially over but his replacements put in a very capable performance.
Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa combined for the Knicks center minutes and helped.
Hartenstein was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Nets with an inflamed and sore Achilles, an injury that has bothered him since at least last season.
The 25-year-old had played in 164 straight games, including Saturday when he aggravated the injury against the Raptors.
Jericho Sims, used sparingly this season, started in his place at Barclays Center and collected four blocks in the opening quarter, a confidence-builder for a player who hadn’t logged meaningful minutes since he suffered a sprained ankle in December.
Achiuwa served as the backup and played the fourth quarter as the Knicks mounted a furious comeback in their 108-103 win.
“[They were] amazing,” Julius Randle said. “Precious gave us big minutes. Jericho gave us big minutes. Protecting the rim. 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. Gave us a lot of versatility.”
It’s unclear how long they’ll need to carry this load.
Hartenstein is considered “day-to-day,” according to Tom Thibodeau.
Hartenstein managed Achilles pain for much of last season but never missed a game. With his Achilles health in mind, Hartenstein told The Post that he turned down an opportunity to play in the summer for Germany at the FIBA World Cup.
“It wasn’t like I’m hurt, it’s that I wanted to make sure I’m fully healthy going into next season,” Hartenstein said at the beginning of this campaign.
Tyra Banks, the supermodel/TV personality, showed up courtside Tuesday at Barclays Center with two people dressed as neon wolves.
The furry costumed folks, with Banks sitting between them, started stroking each other when they got on the arena camera. A Nets spokesman said they were filming a show. Then they all left at halftime, abandoning the seats.
“Nah [they weren’t distracting],” Josh Hart said. “But I was like, ‘What are they?’ ”
Thibodeau didn’t seem too surprised that the Bucks fired Adrian Griffin on Tuesday — just 43 games into his tenure as head coach — basically calling it a consequence of a volatile business.
“Every organization has their philosophy,” Thibodeau said. “There’s different things that you go through throughout the course of a season. And so, you never really can judge another organization unless you’re there. No one really knows,” Thibodeau said. “I know if you’re asking me specifically about Adrian from my time with him, both having coached him and having him on my staff, I know he’s high character. I know his quality. I know he’s a great teacher. I know all those things. So it’s unfortunate but that’s our business.”
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