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For Hukporti, every second is an opportunity — and on a team stacked with shooters and scorers, his path to staying on the floor is simple: remain fully locked in on defense. “I feel like that’s why I’m here: to play defense,” Hukporti told The News. “Being a defensive anchor. Being there for my teammates… just doing my job. I feel like everyone has their specific role, and I feel like I’m a fantastic player in my own role. So I’m trying to embrace it and I’m trying to bring that every day.”
Nick DePaula: Knicks kicks in the NBA Cup tonight: • Jalen Brunson in his Kobe 6 PE • Jordan Clarkson in the SHAI 001 • Karl Towns in his GT Jump 2 PE • Ariel Hukporti in the Harden Vol 10
Knicks kicks in the NBA Cup tonight:
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) December 10, 2025
• Jalen Brunson in his Kobe 6 PE
• Jordan Clarkson in the SHAI 001
• Karl Towns in his GT Jump 2 PE
• Ariel Hukporti in the Harden Vol 10 pic.twitter.com/KKoBDXruVI
Ian Begley: Barring unforeseen circumstance before tipoff, Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (questionable with quad injury) will play tonight vs Cleveland and Ariel Hukporti is expected to get the start in place of the injured Mitchell Robinson, per league sources. The Knicks are without Robinson (left ankle sprain management) and Josh Hart (back spasms) for their opener. Towns was listed as questionable, then downgraded to doubtful this afternoon, then upgraded to questionable again an hour later. Knicks probably went through many lineup permutations with Towns doubtful earlier today. But he is now expected to play. @SbondyNBA earlier reported that he was hearing Towns would play tonight despite his injury designation
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Stefan Bondy: The Knicks extended a qualifying offer to Kevin McCullar and picked up Ariel Hukporti’s contract option, league sources told the Post. They are not planning to pick up contract option of PJ Tucker.
James L Edwards III: Apparently Ariel Hukporti did practice today even though we never got an update on it and no one mentioned he returned all week. Questionable for tomorrow after meniscus surgery. I’d be shocked if Thibs threw a rookie into fire at any point after surgery but who knows anymore.
Shams Charania: New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti has suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks, sources tell ESPN. Hukporti sustained the injury in his first start Wednesday night, posting 8 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block.
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Ian Begley: Ariel Hukporti (sprained left knee) is out for rest of game, Knicks say
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.”
