NBA Power Rankings: New York Knicks Due For Bounce Back
The New York Knicks' rollercoaster season continued in both euphoric and heartbreaking ways over Thanksgiving week.
Back at home at Madison Square Garden after a five-game road trip, the Knicks endured a 116-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night, which prevented them from building on a comeback victory against the Miami Heat two days prior. Combined with a Monday loss in Minnesota, the Knicks (9-7) were 1-2 last week as they continue to handle business against inferior competition while faltering against the NBA's finest.
That led the Knicks to fall back two spots in NBA.com's latest power rankings, dropping to 10th after an eighth-place posting heading into the holiday.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson defended by Miami Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler.
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"The Knicks are 7-0 (one of six undefeated teams) against the 13 teams that are currently at or below .500," NBA.com's John Schuhmann writes. "But they’re 2-7 against the other 16 teams that enter Week 6 with winning records, and that (1.000 vs. .222) is the league’s biggest such differential."
Luckily for the Knicks, three games against teams with active losing records lie on the road ahead this week. The stretch begins on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG), which will serve as the group play finale in In-Season Tournament play.
An MSG homestand concludes when the Detroit Pistons bring a 14-game losing streak with them on Thursday night before December opens with a trip north to face the Toronto Raptors on Friday. The latter two games will make up the Knicks' fifth back-to-back on their schedule this season.
