Precious Achiuwa put up season highs in scoring and rebounds to help the Sacramento Kings secure a 112-101 home victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night for their third win in a row.
The 26-year-old forward had 20 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks on 7-for-14 shooting from the field for the Sacramento Kings. Naturally, Achiuwa received praise from his colleagues after the game.
“I can’t believe he was a free agent when we picked him up,” Zach LaVine said of Achiuwa via NBC Sports. “Playing against him the last five, six years, and then being able to actually have him come in and bring energy. He’s a defensive guy, but he can play 1 through 5. He’s knocking down some threes, which I haven’t seen, but you know, we’ll take it. His pressure, his energy, and the way every day he comes into the facility, he brings happiness.”
“He was aggressive downhill, driving, making sure he was getting to the basket,” head coach Doug Christie added. “There’s not a selfish bone in his body, so he’s a willing passer. But the biggest thing on (the box score) is the 14 rebounds, six of them on the offensive end, and just grown-man basketball all around.”
Sacramento Kings News: Precious Achiuwa downplays “revenge game” vs. New York Knicks
Before joining the Sacramento Kings last summer, Precious Achiuwa was a backup forward for the New York Knicks. Last night was his first game against his previous team, but the former 20th overall pick maintained that this matchup held no extra importance to him.
“I don’t think it was extra motivation,” Achiuwa told reporters. “I just think it was continuing to build on the success we’ve had in the last couple games, you know, just continuing to carry that over. Just go out there and play hard, play the right way, and that was the result.”
“I hope it’s something we can build off,” he continued. “Momentum in this league is very important. Right now, we have a good flow of things. We want to try to continue to build on that.
