Jericho Sims out of rotation for Knicks’ win over Raptors
Jericho Sims went from starter to DNP.
The center, who struggled mightily in the previous two games, was yanked entirely from the rotation in Monday’s 113-108 win over the Raptors.
Instead, coach Tom Thibodeau stuck with Precious Achiuwa as the lone frontcourt reserve in an eight-man rotation.
The other reserves were Miles McBride and Cam Payne.
Monday was the first game the Knicks had a full roster minus only Mitchell Robinson, who is out until at least January while recovering from a second ankle surgery.
Sims had been a defensive force in the paint for parts of this season and was elevated to the starting lineup Saturday against the Pistons because Karl-Anthony Towns was injured.
But Sims was also pulled very early the previous two games — combining for just 10 minutes — while appearing lost on offense.
Then Thibodeau made a decision to keep Sims on the bench.
Achiuwa finished with seven points in 16 minutes while alternating between center and power forward.
“Some good, some rust,” Thibodeau said of Achiuwa. “Each game, a little bit better. So just got to keep working at it.”
Toward the end of the third quarter, Jalen Brunson twisted his ankle after taking a jumper and stepping on a fan near the sideline.
He retreated to the locker room for a few minutes and returned to the game with 6:35 remaining and the Knicks trailing by 2.
“I feel fine. Next question,” Brunson said.
Brunson scored four points with two assists in the final six minutes.
RJ Barrett, still the highest Knicks draft pick since Patrick Ewing, said his uptick in production is related to a different playing style in Toronto.
“The brand of basketball is different. I think it fits my style a little more,” Barrett told SportsNet ahead of Monday’s Knicks-Raptors showdown. “The team that we have, we’re young, we run. I’ve always been a guy that’s been good in transition, so that always helps. … I cut more [here] just because I know I have a chance to get [the ball], and even when I don’t get it, I’m not upset about it because I know I’m getting it on the next one. … If you cut all the time and you never get the ball, you’re probably not gonna want to cut.”
Barrett entered Monday averaging career highs in points (23.3), assists (5.9) and rebounds (6.6) while shooting 46 percent.
However, the Raptors are also a disappointing 7-18 and tied in 14th place in the East after Monday nights loss in which Barrett had 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Barrett, once considered the future face of the Knicks, was dealt last December to Toronto with Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby.
Barrett, who is from the Toronto area and thrilled to be back home, said he knew the Knicks were going to trade him last season because, “You can tell when you’re treated a certain way.”
Barrett had fallen to at least third in the organizational pecking order behind Brunson and Julius Randle.
“Lots of stuff [gave me that vibe that I was going to be traded.] Lots of stuff,” Barrett added in the locker room Monday. “I think I just got a vibe, kind of figured. I wasn’t really too surprised when it happened.”