Monday, Feb. 15 vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Knicks' very next game is arguably their most important one to win before the first half of the season concludes. The Hawks (11-15) are currently in the No. 10 seed in the East, but sit just one game back of New York in the standings.

Aside from pushing Atlanta further down the standings, this game could be a potential preview of what's to come in the play-in tournament this summer. The Knicks already beat the Hawks, 113-108, earlier this season, but that game included a late-fourth quarter rally by New York after entering the fourth quarter down four. Trae Young had 31 points and 14 assists as well.

Injuries have also started to pile up for the Hawks and they've won one of their last seven, so a loss in Monday's game to a depleted team would not give high hopes to Knicks fans should these two squads meet in the play-in game and beyond.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Orlando Magic

Like the Hawks, the Magic (10-18) have already suffered a loss to the Knicks this season. Taking the season series over as many east opponents as possible would surly help their playoff hopes down the line.

Orlando is currently 12th in the East and 2.5 games back of New York. The Knicks are riding a two-game win streak as of Sunday, and getting another two wins against the Hawks and Magic would put them right back at .500 -- and potentially into the top six of the standings.

Saturday, Feb. 27 vs. Indiana Pacers

Look, at the end of the day, every in-conference game is important (re: Magic game), but this matchup with the Pacers (14-13) is the biggest "prove it" game the Knicks have left on the schedule.

The Knicks have some shocking wins so far this season, most notably a 20-point win over the Milwaukee Bucks and an even more impressive 30-point thrashing of the Boston Celtics. Those two are currently second and third in the Eastern Conference.

Indiana is currently No. 4 in the East and 1.5 games ahead of New York. They each have a win over each other, with the Pacers' coming in the first game of the season and the Knicks' less than 10 days later.

Both sides are different teams since then, with the Knicks seeing Immanuel Quickley become one of the best rookies in the league and then bringing in Derrick Rose, to the Pacers shipping Victor Oladipo out to Houston as a part of the big James Harden trade.

Picking up another win over a top-seeded team in the conference would be big for the Knicks' confidence heading into the break -- and potentially into the postseason.

Honorable mentions

Sunday, Feb. 21 at Minnesota Timberwolves

Sunday, Feb 28 at Detroit Pistons

Though these are both road games, they are against two of worst teams in the league. These should be two easy wins to pick up, but would be two horrible losses, especially with how tight the race is in the east at the moment.

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