Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Drawing first start of 2024-25
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Achiuwa will start Thursday's game against the Timberwolves, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.
Achiuwa will enter the starting five in place of Josh Hart (personal). Achiuwa is averaging 4.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks through his first five appearances of the season, all off the bench.
Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Four defensive stats in loss
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Achiuwa racked up two points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt), five rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two steals across 19 minutes during Wednesday's 108-100 loss to Atlanta.
Achiuwa tallied four defensive stats, salvaging an otherwise quiet performance. The Knicks continue to run a shallow rotation, typically preventing their bench unit from playing significant minutes. Although Achiuwa appears locked in as the backup center, he would need Karl-Anthony Towns to miss time to have any chance at putting up consistent production on both ends of the floor.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Double-digit boards off bench
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Achiuwa logged six points (2-3 FG, 2-5 FT), 10 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal in 28 minutes during Saturday's 120-111 loss to the Pistons.
Although it was Jericho Sims who entered the starting lineup for the injured Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), it was Achiuwa who soaked up the bulk of the minutes at center for the Knicks on Saturday. It was Achiuwa's second regular-season appearance after the 25-year-old big man missed the first 21 games of the year with a hamstring injury, so it was encouraging to see him already handle 28 minutes off the bench this soon after returning to the court. With New York still missing Mitchell Robinson (ankle) as well, Achiuwa is worth a speculative add in deep fantasy leagues while the status of Towns remains up in the air for Monday's game against the Raptors.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Receives 12 minutes in debut
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Achiuwa (hamstring) logged two points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 0-2 FT), four rebounds and one assist across 12 minutes Thursday in the Knicks' 125-101 win over the Hornets.
Achiuwa made his season debut after missing the Knicks' first 21 games of the season due to a left hamstring strain sustained in the preseason finale. Though Jericho Sims was the Knicks' first big man off the bench Thursday, he played just three minutes to Achiuwa's 12. Expect that disparity to grow wider as Achiuwa becomes further removed from the injury, with Sims potentially falling out of the rotation entirely. The Knicks showed a willingness to use Achiuwa last season as a backup option at both power forward and center, but it will likely take an injury to one of the team's starters before he gets enough minutes to make for an appealing pickup in 12-team leagues or shallower.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Will make season debut Thursday
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Achiuwa (hamstring) is available to play Thursday against the Hornets, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Achiuwa will finally make his season debut in this matchup against the Hornets, adding some much-needed depth to the frontcourt. It's unclear if Achiuwa will be on a minutes restriction, but Achiuwa will operate as one of Karl-Anthony Towns' backup options, possibly stealing minutes from Jericho Sims.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: On track to play Thursday
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Achiuwa (hamstring) will warm up with the intention to play in Thursday's game versus the Hornets, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.
Achiuwa is officially listed as questionable Thursday but appears on track to make his season debut. If Achiuwa is upgraded to available, he will likely operate on a minutes restriction as he works his way back to game shape.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Listed as questionable for Thursday
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Achiuwa (hamstring) is questionable for Thursday's game against Charlotte.
Achiuwa continues gradually ramping up for a Knicks' squad that could benefit from his depth in the frontcourt. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Monday that Achiuwa could be ready to play "in a week or so," which would make a return to action Thursday improbable, though New York has yet to rule him out.
Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Practices with G League squad
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New York recalled Achiuwa (hamstring) from the G League's Westchester Knicks on Monday.
Westchester didn't have a game Monday, so Achiuwa, Tyler Kolek and Ariel Hukporti joined the G League squad for practice and were recalled afterward. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Monday that Achiuwa is expected to return to game action "in a week or so," and when available, he'll likely serve as the Knicks' top reserve option in the frontcourt.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Closing in on return
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Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said Monday that Achiuwa (hamstring) is "getting closer" to making his season debut and could be ready to play "in a week or so," Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.
Achiuwa thus looks likely to miss the remaining three games of the Knicks' homestand this week, but he might be cleared to play during the team's three-game road trip that begins Monday in Toronto. While Achiuwa likely won't have a sizable role waiting for him once he's back to full strength, he could end up unseating Jericho Sims as the top backup to starting center Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Won't return Sunday vs. NOLA
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Achiuwa (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post reports
Achiuwa has increased his practice participation over the last week while recovering from a hamstring strain he sustained in the preseason. His next chance to make his 2024-25 regular-season debut will be against the Magic on Tuesday.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: To start practice soon
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Achiuwa (hamstring) is expected to be cleared to practice at some point during the Knicks five-game road trip that begins Wednesday, Steve Popper of Newsday reports.
Achiuwa hasn't practiced since suffering a hamstring strain during the preseason, but he appears to be close to resuming basketball activities. Still, the 25-year-old shouldn't be expected back until December, at the earliest.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Remains out indefinitely
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Achiuwa (hamstring) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Bulls, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post reports.
Achiuwa has yet to make his season debut and isn't practicing yet, suggesting his return to game action won't come for at least a few weeks. Jericho Sims has been operating as the Knicks' backup center to Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Still absent from practice
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Coach Tom Thibodeau said Friday that Achiuwa (hamstring) hasn't started practicing yet but is making progress in his recovery, Ian Begley of SportsNet New York reports.
Achiuwa has yet to make his season debut due to a left hamstring strain. The 25-year-old big man's next hurdle in his recovery will be getting cleared to practice. Until Achiuwa can suit up, Jericho Sims should continue operating as the Knicks' backup center to Karl-Anthony Towns.
Achiuwa sustained a strained left hamstring in Friday's preseason finale against the Wizards and will be reevaluated in 2-4 weeks, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
Achiuwa's injury is a huge blow to an already thin Knicks frontcourt with Mitchell Robinson (ankle) expected to miss significant time. Achiuwa's absence will likely open up playing time for Jericho Sims off the bench behind Karl-Anthony Towns. Furthermore, the club will likely have to take an extended look at its two-way players in Jacob Toppin (ankle) and Ariel Hukporti.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Heads to locker room Friday
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Achiuwa departed Friday's preseason game against the Wizards in the fourth quarter due to an apparent hamstring injury, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reports.
The big man tried to dunk on someone but came down holding his hamstring and went straight to the locker room. That doesn't bode well for the Knicks, as they're already thin in terms of frontcourt depth. Jericho Sims is the next man up if Achiuwa is forced to miss time.
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Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Back to bench Friday
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Achiuwa will return to the bench in Friday's preseason finale against the Wizards, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News reports.
Achiuwa got the start during Wednesday's preseason game against the Hornets, during which he produced a 20-point double-double with 16 rebounds. However, the starters are back with OG Anunoby (rest) and Karl-Anthony Towns (rest) running the frontcourt.
Knicks' Precious Achiuwa: Dominant showing in spot start
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Achiuwa supplied 20 points (8-15 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), 16 rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes in Tuesday's 111-105 preseason win over the Hornets.
Achiuwa was inserted into the starting five Tuesday as the Knicks' typical starters rested in the penultimate preseason contest. Achiuwa took advantage of the extended playing time, grabbing a game-high 16 boards (including six on the offensive side of the floor), and he showed off his extended range by connecting on two of three three-point attempts. Achiuwa should see more playing time off the bench to start the 2024-25 regular season while Mitchell Robinson continues to work through a left ankle injury.
