The Knicks are coming home and have the opportunity to make a big push in the standings.
After splitting a pair of road games in Dallas and Memphis, the Knicks will play 12 of their next 14 games in the cozy confines of Madison Square Garden, beginning with Monday’s tilt against the Orlando Magic.
Of these 14 games, seven are against teams with winning records and seven are against teams that are .500 or have losing records.
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The Knicks (23-16) are 11-4 at home this season. They are currently the No. 6 seed in the East — where the Celtics (30-9) lead a crowded field by three games — and could make a move up the standings with a strong stretch of games in New York.
“Don’t play with your food,” Knicks forward Julius Randle said earlier this season in reference to beating teams they should beat. “Take care of what you’re supposed to take care of and just keep improving.”
Here are the records of their next 14 opponents:
–vs. Orlando (21-18)
–vs. Houston (19-19)
–vs. Washington (7-31)
–vs. Toronto (15-24)
—at Brooklyn (16-22)
–vs. Denver (27-13)
–vs. Miami (22-16)
–at Charlotte (8-28)
–vs. Utah (21-20)
–vs. Indiana (23-15)
–vs. Lakers (19-21)
–vs. Memphis (14-25)
–vs. Dallas (23-17)
–vs. Indiana (23-15)
Among the Knicks’ upcoming opponents, several games are worth circling.
–On Jan. 20, R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley make their first appearance at the Garden as members of the Toronto Raptors since being traded for OG Anunoby. The Knicks are 6-1 with Anunoby, while the Raptors are 3-4 since the trade. Former Indiana coach Tom Crean said the trade “changes the East immediately” by making the Knicks that much better.
–On Jan. 25, the Knicks host Nikola Jokic and the defending NBA champion Nuggets, coached by former Seton Hall Prep point guard Mike Malone. Jokic is enjoying another MVP-caliber season, averaging a near-triple double at 25.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists while shooting…
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