Achiuwa’s rise was more than just a noteworthy aside; he may now play a crucial role.

With Mitchell Robinson out due to an ankle injury, starting center Isaiah Hartenstein has stepped in brilliantly. However, in the third quarter of Saturday’s game, Hartenstein left with a sore ankle and did not come back.

Following the game, head coach Tom Thibodeau had little to report regarding Hartenstein.You get what I mean? I’m just playing the game. After all, I didn’t do anything unusual,” Achiuwa remarked. “I play and approach the game in the same manner every day. exactly the same level of intensity. It just so happened that I had a successful day.

Achiuwa helped the Knicks own the glass, earning a 61-31 rebounding advantage. Four of Achiuwa’s rebounds were offensive, where the Knicks had a 15-11 advantage His plus-13 matched Hartenstein, meaning the Knicks did not drop off at all with Achiuwa on the floor.

“You just want to build every day. I think he played hard,” Thibodeau said of Achiuwa. “Extended minutes helped him, and I think familiar with the opponent, but each day just get in there and play as hard as you can. When you do that, good things come from that.”Achiuwa has been more than just a throw-in for the Knicks, playing a valuable role as the team’s backup center.It’s a position the Knicks have become thin at and which could hardly afford to now lose Hartenstein. Jericho Sims is the only other option there unless Thibodeau opts to play small-ball.

Since joining the Knicks, Achiuwa has averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.7 minutes off the bench going into Saturday. His seven points during the Knicks’ Jan. 11 loss to the Mavericks was his previous team scoring high.This season, in 17.5 minutes a game, Achiuwa had averaged 7.7 points and 5.4 rebounds with the Raptors.

Achiuwa remarked, “It felt a little weird being against those guys, especially Scottie Barnes and Chris Boucher.” “Winning the game is the most important thing, but it felt a little strange competing against those guys.”