2012 NBA standings: Knicks well ahead in Atlantic, opening up Eastern Conference lead

The New York Knicks aren't just in first place in the Eastern Conference, they're beginning to open up a little bit of a lead.

After Tuesday night's win over the Brooklyn Nets, New York extended its lead in the Atlantic Division to 4.5 games, the biggest of any division lead at this point in the year besides the Oklahoma City Thunder. They dropped half a game Wednesday night with Brooklyn beating the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics winning in double overtime over the Dallas Mavericks, but still own a sizeable lead on that front. They were tied with Brooklyn a little bit over two weeks ago, but the Nets stumbled without Brook Lopez, losing five straight, and allowing New York to surge in the standings.

Now Knicks fans wonder how long they can hold on to the top spot in the East. Miami, the defending NBA champions, had jumped out to the early lead, but now have lost three of five: one to the lowly Washington Wizards, one Wednesday night to the Golden State Warriors on a Draymond Green jumper, and a blowout loss against the Knicks themselves, their second defeat at the hands of New York on the young season. That leaves New York 1.5 up on Miami with the season just about a quarter over.

Here's a look at the full conference standings after Wednesday night's action: