New York Knicks Take First Step to 6th Seed in NBA Playoffs with Win vs. Wizards

In just one night, the New York Knicks regained the seventh-seed in the NBA playoff picture and now have their sights set on the sixth-seed with seven games to go in the regular season.

With the Philadelphia 76ers' loss to the New Jersey Nets and the Knicks win over the Washington Wizards, New York moves back into a tie for the seventh-seed with Philly. The Knicks own the tiebreaker so they are the true seventh-seed at the moment.

Also working to the Knicks' fortunes, the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic got pummeled in Atlanta against the Hawks and still have at least two more games left without their best player, according to a tweet from Magic writer Dan Savage.

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SVG: "@DwightHoward will not play tonight and we don't anticipate him playing Sunday or Monday."

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The Knicks are now three games back of the Magic for the sixth-seed which is the same margin as their own division. However, with the way the Boston Celtics are playing, catching the Magic is more likely.

Winning the sixth-seed would pit the Knicks against the Indiana Pacers in the first round which is a much more desirable matchup than the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat.

With Miami and Boston coming up in their next two games, the Knicks will have their work cut out for them but both are certainly winnable games.

Mike Woodson's squad has already beaten the Celtics this season and the Heat are struggling lately. Both games are at Madison Square Garden and the Knicks have won nine in-a-row in their house.

If all goes well, and so far it has, the Knicks could be one game back of the Magic upon the return of Amar'e Stoudemire in Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.

A team in turmoil like the Magic are perfect candidates for such an epic collapse, and the Knicks just happen to be a possible beneficiary. The longer D12 is in the trainer's room, the better chance the Knicks have of making a quantum leap into the playoff picture.