Knicks Vs. 76ers: Carmelo Anthony Pushes New York Back Into Intrigue

Don't look now, but the New York Knicks we all left for dead a week ago are again above .500 and looking to get back into the No. 6 spot in the East bracket of the NBA Playoffs. Wednesday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET, local TV and League Pass) could decide the race; the teams are separated by a half-game as we enter the final week of the regular season.

If Philadelphia wins, they'll earn both a 1.5-game lead for No. 6 and the head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Knicks win, they'd have a slight advantage in the standings, a tie in the head-to-head series and, provided New York can beat the Nets on Friday, the tiebreaker advantage on division record.

The question remains whether the Knicks want to be No. 6. The Celtics and Heat remain tied for No. 2, but Boston has the tiebreaker based on head-to-head. One assumes the Knicks would rather face Miami, against whom they are 2-2 this season, than Boston, against whom they are 0-3. Philadelphia has one win in four tries against Boston and none in three against Miami. But until there's clarity up top, there's no real preference down here.

But wins are preferred to losses, all told, and these teams are looking for momentum. Andre Iguodala and Carmelo Anthony should be a nice matchup, and Amar'e Stoudemire vs. Elton Brand is a dandy. For more on the Knicks, check out Posting And Toasting. For Sixers analysis, visit Liberty Ballers.