Isaiah Hartenstein, the Knicks’ Iron Man since he signed last season, is expected to miss Tuesday’s game against the Nets with Achilles pain as the team is preparing to start Jericho Sims at center, a source confirmed.
Hartenstein played in 164 straight games, including Saturday when he suffered the injury against the Raptors.
He has also been on a minutes and production tear lately, averaging 34.9 minutes, 13.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in his last 11 appearances.
Sims, meanwhile, hasn’t logged meaningful time since suffering a badly sprained ankle on Dec. 18.
He had started five straight games until that point but lost his rotation spot because of Hartenstein’s surge and the acquisition of Precious Achiuwa, who became — and remains — the backup center.
The lineup struggled this season with Sims as the starter, but that was also before the trade for OG Anunoby.
The Knicks (26-17) have won 9 of 11 since that deal, while the Nets (17-25) are plummeting.
“I’m kind of used to it by now,” Sims said Monday about waiting his turn. “Every day I’m going through my same routine as if I was to play and I think that’s in the past so I will just stick with that.”
Hartenstein managed Achilles pain for much of last season but never missed a game.
With his Achilles health in mind, Hartenstein told The Post that he turned down an opportunity to play in the summer for Germany at the FIBA World Cup.
“It wasn’t like I’m hurt, it’s that I wanted to make sure I’m fully healthy going into next season,” Hartenstein said at the beginning of this campaign.
Hartenstein collected 10 boards — including five offensive — when the Knicks pummeled the Nets in their last head-to-head meeting on Dec. 20. That was the first of 17 straight starts for Hartenstein.
The Knicks haven’t released any additional medical information on regular starting center Mitchell Robinson, who underwent surgery on his ankle in December and “will be re-evaluated” next month.
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