NBA standings 2012: Knicks now second in Eastern Conference, Nets struggling

The New York Knicks aren't the top team in the Eastern Conference anymore, but they still have a commanding lead in the Atlantic Division and are within striking distance of the Miami Heat.

The Heat are starting to show why they won the NBA Finals last season, reeling off six-straight wins including a Christmas Day victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. That win, coupled with New York's loss on the same day to the Los Angeles Lakers, dropped New York half a game behind the Heat. But New York bounced back by beating the Phoenix Suns on the strength of a J.R. Smith game-winner. Their 7-3 record in the last ten games is actually a bit below their overall winning percentage.

They might not be in line to take the No. 1 seed in the East anymore, but they're cruising in their division thanks in part to the struggles of the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets have gone 3-10 in the month of December, and lost their last two games by 17 and 15 points, respectively. That leaves them in third place in the division after a strong start, at .500 and 6.5 games behind the Knicks.

Here's a look at the complete Eastern Conference standings after Wednesday night's games.