Another big man is back in the mix for the Knicks.
Ariel Hukporti was active for Saturday night’s Game 1 in the Knicks’ first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, marking the rookie center’s return from the torn meniscus he suffered in late February.
The clearance came a day after Hukporti was upgraded to questionable for the first time since he underwent surgery on his left knee.
“It’s just been a gradual buildup,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hukporti’s recovery.
Hukporti practiced Friday and was a game-time decision Saturday before he went through a pregame warmup at Madison Square Garden.
The return came a little over seven weeks after Hukporti sustained the injury in a Feb. 26 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, during which the 23-year-old made his first career start.
Hukporti — the 58th and final pick in last year’s draft — averaged 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game over 25 appearances in the regular season. He played at least 16 minutes in each of his last three games.
The 6-11 center gives Thibodeau another option off the bench against a Pistons team that thrives on physicality. Detroit’s starting center, Jalen Duren, is 6-10, while backup Isaiah Stewart is 6-8 but known for his bruising style of play.
Hukporti remains behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson on the Knicks’ depth chart. Precious Achiuwa, meanwhile, has played power forward and center.
