Depleted Knicks must overcome struggles to avoid play-in scenarios

The Knicks had positioned themselves to challenge for the No. 2 playoff position in the Eastern Conference with a steamrolling 14-2 record in January before an injury-riddled February suddenly left them fighting to avoid the dicey play-in scenarios.

Tom Thibodeau’s depleted team dropped eight of 12 games over the past month — with their starting frontcourt of Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson missing all of them, and other key players intermittently sitting out with various ailments.

Thursday’s loss to the Warriors pushed the fourth-place Knicks four games behind the Cavaliers and the Bucks in the East — with both of those teams in action Friday night — ahead of Sunday’s visit to Cleveland.

Much more pressing, however, is that teams four through eight (idle Miami) in the East were separated by 1 ¹/₂ games entering March.

Here is a breakdown of where those five teams stand, with roughly six weeks remaining in the regular season:

Knicks: With 12 road games among their final 22, the Knicks have the second-hardest remaining schedule among the five(.502 opponents’ winning percentage), according to Tankathon, including a key three-game stretch beginning next weekend vs. Orlando and Philadelphia (twice).