NBA Power Rankings: Knicks Trending Up After Jalen Brunson Return?
The New York Knicks are riding smoothly into the last few weeks of the regular season as the playoffs approach.
Assured their first winning season in a full 82-game slate since 2012-13, the Knicks hope to solidify a spot in the Eastern Conference's top six spots and avoid the Play-In tournament. New York has certainly played like a team worthy of that top-six spot, and the latest power rankings from Sports Illustrated reflect that, ranking them in seventh place for the second straight week.
Last week's action saw the Knicks get over a three-game losing streak with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets, part of a three-game winning streak that secured a winning season.
"New York had a light week with just two games on its schedule and it won both," SI writes. "First was the final leg of a four-game road trip in which the Knicks beat the Trail Blazers by 16 behind Immanuel Quickley’s 26 points."
"Jalen Brunson (foot) returned from his three-game absence to lead his team to a win over the Nuggets. Brunson, Julius Randle, and RJ Barrett each had 20-plus points in the contest to complete the season sweep of Denver."
After their loss last night to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Knicks (42-31) will look to get a little warmer in Florida with games against the Miami Heat on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG) and Orlando Magic on Thursday.
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