NBA Power Rankings: After a three-game winning streak, the Knicks are back on the rise.
The New York Knicks moved up in the most recent NBA power rankings thanks to three straight victories.
The New York Knicks (26-17) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings heading into a new week of play. They have won their last three games and are still climbing the ladder thanks to victories over Houston, Washington, and Toronto. On Monday, they lost to the Orlando Magic during their holiday visit.
The Knicks’ rise was noted in new CBS Sports power rankings, which moved them up four spots to ninth from 13th last week.
Colin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports writes, “The Knicks train kept on rolling this week with comfortable wins over the Rockets, Wizards, and Raptors after a brief misstep.” With OG Anunoby, New York has proven to be simply unstoppable thus far. They have won nine of their last 11 games and are outscoring opponents by an absurd 38 points per 100 possessions when he is on the court.”
In the first meeting between the division rivals since trading for OG Anunoby on December 30, the Knicks handled business against Houston and Washington before routing the Toronto Raptors by 26 on Saturday.
The Knicks have a 9-2 record since acquiring Anunoby, which is second best in the NBA during that time frame only to Cleveland. The journey ahead doesn’t get any simpler as New York aims to be accepted into the elite of the Eastern Conference.
Two nights after the Knicks visit Brooklyn on Tuesday (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT), they play the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. After that, they’ll play the Miami Heat in a nationally televised rematch of their playoff matchup from last year’s second round, and they’ll end the week in Charlotte against the struggling Hornets.
