No, Precious Achiuwa is not OG Anunoby. Nobody expects him to replicate what Anunoby contributes to the team.
But he filled in valiantly, replacing Anunoby in the starting lineup for the Knicks’ 124-118 win over the Rockets on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. It marked the Knicks’ first game this season without Anunoby, who is considered day to day with a mild foot sprain.
“I’m Precious Achiuwa. Just being able to play my game, really,” Achiuwa told The Post. “I’m a winner. Just play my game, I’m not going to be OG. We have different styles of play. For me, it’s just doing the things I know I’m elite at and continuing to do that.”
Achiuwa claimed earlier in the year that he is an “elite” defender. He recorded two steals on Monday along with seven points and nine rebounds. He played 34 minutes, his second-highest total of the season.
“We’re going through an adjustment, obviously, with OG out, different guys stepping in,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I thought Precious, his defense helped a lot, just because of the switchability that we have with him. They have a number of guys that have great quickness that can go off the dribble. You have to build your shell, and when we build our shell, we’re pretty good.”
Ariel Hukporti managed to accumulate four fouls in just eight minutes.
“I respect it,” Jalen Brunson said. “He came in there, and he came with great energy. I’m not even trying to be funny. It’s really tough when you don’t know when your number is going to be called and you come and try to impact the game. And he did. Loved his energy, loved what he did. Proud of him.”
Hukporti did not score but recorded a block and two rebounds. He was a team-worst minus-14, though.
“Great energy,” Josh Hart said. “I think that was the biggest thing. Obviously, he’s young, the flow of the game was different than what he’s used to. He gave us great energy, good minutes. He used his fouls — he’s got six of them, and he was making sure he’s going to use them. Nah, great energy for us.”
The Knicks were just as surprised about the stunning three-team blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks.
“I think everybody was in awe, shocked,” Hart said. “Got to give credit to [Lakers president of basketball operations] Rob Pelinka, man: highway robbery. Good for them.”
