NBA Power Rankings: Knicks Falling After Jalen Brunson Injury?
The pressure mounts on the NBA front as spring approaches and things are particularly tight when it comes to the New York Knicks.
A rollercoaster week saw the Knicks pay a bit of a price in CBS Sports' latest power rankings. After defeats at the hands of New Orleans and Golden State, New York (36-25) avoided a three-game losing streak and secured a crucial, emotional victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday ... a win that came with Jalen Brunson sidelined by a knee injury less than a minute into the game.
USA TODAY SPORTS
That painful week saw the Knicks fall to 11th in CBS' latest rankings, a five-spot from sixth the week prior.
"The MASH unit known as the New York Knicks received another scare on Sunday, but it sounds like Jalen Brunson avoided major injury -- and they held on to win in Cleveland as well," CBS Sports' Colin Ward-Henninger writes. "Still, the Knicks are searching for answers as they await the return of OG Anunoby, Julius Randle, and possibly Mitchell Robinson.
"If Brunson has to miss any time, even the Knicks' meager 106 offensive rating in three games this week will be difficult to maintain."
Brunson is questionable to return for the Knicks' Tuesday game against the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG) after initial x-rays on his knee came back negative. But any extended absence would be cause for concern, especially considering how narrow the Knicks' lead in the race for first-round homecourt advantage has gotten and who lies on the road ahead.
Following Tuesday's game against the Trae Young-less Hawks, the Knicks face the Orlando Magic on Friday before welcoming in the Philadelphia 76ers for a back-to-back. Orlando, which has topped the Knicks in three prior meetings this season, is a game behind the Knicks in sixth place while Philadelphia is a half-game away from swiping fourth.
