Knicks receive positive injury updates on Precious Achiuwa, Mitchell Robinson

PHOENIX — Wednesday brought some cautiously optimistic updates for the Knicks frontcourt.Precious Achiuwa, who hasn’t played since sustaining a strained hamstring in the preseason finale, is expected to be cleared for practice during the Knicks’ five-game road trip, Tom Thibodeau revealed before the 138-122 victory over the Suns.Mitchell Robinson, who also accompanied the Knicks on the road trip, started shooting on his surgically repaired ankle but hasn’t been cleared to practice or run yet, the coach said.“It’s going to be a long progression,” Thibodeau said.“So obviously he started but he has to be patient, go step-by-step.

He hasn’t been cleared for practice but he’s done some shooting and that sort of thing.Can do conditioning in the weight room.

So he’s making good progress.Just have to be patient.”Robinson, who underwent a second surgery on his left ankle in May, isn’t expected to return until December, at the very earliest, though more likely after the New Year.Achiuwa is much closer to playing again.

Thibodeau said it’s a matter of how he feels after a contact practice.“He’s moving pretty good right now,” Thibodeau said.Without Achiuwa and Robinson, the Knicks have been rolling with a center rotation of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jericho Sims and Ariel Hukporti.Miles McBride, who missed his fourth straight game because of knee inflammation Wednesday, is considered a true day-to-day, meaning he could play as early as Saturday in Utah.Cam Payne, who scored 12 points in the Knicks’ win Wednesday, returned to the place of his NBA breakout and also an arrest this summer he declared was a one-time mishap.“It was just a little mistake I had,” Payne said.

“Wish it never would have happened.Won’t ever happen again.”According to reports, Payne called police to his Scottsdale, Ariz., home on June 14 following a fight with his girlfriend.

When police arrived, Payne refused to provide his name — instead calling himself, “T...