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NBA Power Rankings: Knicks Falling After Jalen Brunson Injury?

The New York Knicks took a hit in the latest NBA power rankings after Jalen Brunson's injury on Sunday.

Jeremy Brener

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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.

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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.

McBride Goes Extra Miles For Knicks After Brunson Injury

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. 

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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