Tom Thibodeau used OG Anunoby’s absence from the lineup to take a look — for a few minutes, at least — at Karl-Anthony Towns at power forward with rookie Ariel Hukporti at center Tuesday night against the Raptors.
It could be a precursor to playing Towns and former starting center Mitchell Robinson in tandem once Robinson finally is cleared to make his regular-season debut following May ankle surgery.
Towns had shifted back to the middle this year with the Knicks, after mostly manning the No. 4 power forward spot the previous two seasons in Minnesota after the Timberwolves had acquired All-Star center Rudy Gobert.
“Just a tall lineup, and it’s gonna be exciting to kind of explore that lineup,” Towns said about the possible configuration after Friday’s practice in Tarrytown. “It should give me … I have some familiarity with it with Rudy, so it’ll be something that I’ll tap into that kind of potential well.”
The 26-year-old Robinson was slated to miss his 52nd consecutive game Saturday night against the Celtics at the Garden.
But after finally getting cleared for contact earlier in the week, the 7-footer “did quite a bit in practice” Friday and was “moving well,” according to Thibodeau.
Robinson still has not resumed five-on-five scrimmaging, but Thibodeau said his conditioning is “pretty good” after regularly working out on a stationary bike before returning to the practice court.
“Always seeing Mitch is great,” Towns said. “Being around him since I got here, it’s been awesome to be able to get to know him more on the friend side, instead of just being his competitor.
“I respect him tremendously for what he does for this team. So it’s been great to be able to build a bond with him.”
For that reason, Towns added that he doesn’t view Robinson — who has averaged 1.9 blocked shots per game over his first six NBA seasons — as the Knicks’ replacement for a significant acquisition at Thursday’s trade deadline.
“Nah, he’s been here,” the fifth-time All-Star said. “We’ve always had great plans and a relationship with him so nothing changed.”
All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson also is looking forward to seeing what the Robinson-Towns combination can do — even in small doses — once the former is able to return to the lineup.
“They have the potential to be very good,” Brunson said. “I just want Mitch to come back fully healthy and ready to go. That’s my main focus, just making sure he’s fully, 100 percent ready.”
In the meantime, the little-used Hukporti has received backup center minutes in the past two games with Anunoby (sprained foot) sidelined.
The 2024 second-round pick recorded six points and five rebounds in 19 active minutes Tuesday against the Raptors, with fellow reserve Jericho Sims getting traded to the Bucks the following day.
“He’s done a good job,” Thibodeau said of the 7-foot Hukporti, who was born in Germany. “He’s young. He’s learning. So, he’s getting better.
“The way Precious [Achiuwa] has played has been a big plus for us. We also have OG, who can slide over to the 5, so we think we have good depth there.”
Asked what he’s seen from Hukporti as the season has progressed, Towns replied that “the rook has been fantastic.”
“He’s coming in every day with the right mindset,” Towns said. “He’s hungry to be the best version of himself and is super coachable. It allows him to be on a fast track to success.
“And he’s done himself just nothing but wonders by being who he is and being the player he is and just wanting to be a superstar in his role.”
