Ailing foot may sideline Hartenstein
Isaiah Hartenstein hasn’t missed a game in his two seasons with the Knicks, but that might change Tuesday night in Brooklyn. Hartenstein did not practice Monday, and the Knicks officially are listing their recent starting center as questionable for Tuesday’s game at Barclays Center with a sore left foot suffered in Saturday’s win over the Raptors. The Knicks initially had said that night that the injury was to his left ankle. Precious Achiuwa and littleused big man Jericho Sims likely would fill in for Hartenstein, who has averaged 7.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 33.8 minutes in 17 starts this season.
Sims had started the first five games after Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery in December. But he also missed time with an ankle injury and then was buried behind since-released veteran Taj Gibson and, more recently, Achiuwa on the depth chart.
“Mitch goes out and everyone thinks what’s going to happen. And [Hartenstein] stepped right in and it was good and very positive,” coach Tom Thibodeau said after practice. “Jericho did a good job filling in, as well and he got injured. Now Precious is in there. It’s next guy, just be ready. If you are not in the rotation, you never know when that time comes. When it comes, you have to be ready to go and perform well.”
Asked if Hartenstein underwent an X-ray, Thibodeau replied “just medical treatment.”
Sims, who appeared in 52 games for the Knicks last season, has totaled just 15 minutes in five games since returning from his ankle injury in late December.
“Every day is an opportunity. Every time you get in a game, it’s a chance to play and go all out. So I’m excited about all that,” Sims said after practice. “The challenge of it is going down to the Garden and then having to sit through it. And then the next day is pretty much your day to train. That’s the approach you have to have every day when you come in.”
➤ Julius Randle called the Knicks’ segment of eight of their next 10 games at MSG “the most important” stretch of the season.
“Some people take their foot off the gas. For us, we want to turn it up and head into the [All-Star] break strong,” Randle said.
He also replied “absolutely” when asked if the Knicks’ road games against the Nets often feel like home games, adding that Knicks fans “definitely know how to show up when we play in Brooklyn, for sure.”