Three straight victories to close out their first-round series put the New York Knicks in a position almost everyone expected – if not demanded – they would occupy.
Three straight victories to close out their first-round series put the Philadelphia 76ers in a position almost no one could have anticipated.
The Knicks and 76ers will begin an unexpected Eastern Conference semifinal series Monday night, when New York hosts Philadelphia in Game 1 of the best-of-seven set.
The third-seeded Knicks advanced to the second round by dispatching of the Atlanta Hawks in a six-game quarterfinal series that ended Thursday night with New York rolling to a 140-89 victory.
The seventh-seeded 76ers moved on by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit and stunning the second-seeded Boston Celtics, whom they eliminated with a 109-100 win in Saturday night’s Game 7.
The fashions in which they advanced will provide the Knicks and 76ers plenty of momentum heading into the sixth all-time playoff clash dating back to 1968 between the longtime Atlantic Division rivals.
The Knicks, the only Eastern Conference team to advance out of the first round in fewer than seven games, fell behind the Hawks with consecutive one-point losses in Games 2 and 3 before outscoring Atlanta 380-284 over the final three games.
The Game 6 victory was the most lopsided playoff win in Knicks history – and it could have been even more resounding. New York opened a 47-point halftime lead, the largest ever in an NBA postseason game, and led by as many as 61 points in the third quarter.
The dominant closeout against the Hawks, coupled with the elimination of the Celtics and the surprising struggles of the top-seeded Detroit Pistons – who will try and complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in Sunday night’s Game 7 – have turned the Knicks into the favorite to reach the NBA Finals.
Reclusive New York owner James Dolan indicated that was the minimal expectation by firing Tom Thibodeau last June, just days after he led the Knicks to the conference finals last year for the first time since 2000.
The Knicks haven’t made the NBA Finals since 1999 and haven’t won it all since 1973.
“When we’re locked in, playing close to our best, we’re really, really good,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “So, it’s about finding that team, that version of us consistently.”
Nobody knew what to expect out of the 76ers, who went 24-58 last season – when they missed the playoffs for the first time since the spring of 2017 – and entered this season with an unusual mix of promising youngsters and aging veterans.
But Philadelphia, keyed by rookie shooting guard VJ Edgecombe and fifth-year star point guard Tyrese Maxey, reached the playoffs despite stars Joel Embiid and Paul George combining to play only 75 games due to injuries and George’s drug suspension.
The postseason trip looked like it might be a short one for the 76ers when Embiid missed the first three games recovering from an appendectomy and the Celtics rolled to a 128-96 victory upon Embiid’s return in Game 4 – Boston’s second win in the series by 32 points.
But the 76ers overcame a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in franchise history by outscoring the Celtics 328-290 over the final three games. Philadelphia trailed for fewer than five minutes combined in Games 6 and 7.
The 76ers shot 47% from the field in the last three games, right in line with their regular season 46.2% shooting percentage. But they limited Boston to 40.7% shooting after allowing opponents to shoot 46.7% in the regular season.
“I always say, you can’t win alone,” Embiid said. “You need a team. The way we’re playing right now, we’re so in sync offensively and defensively. Guys understand what they need to do.”
The teams split the four-game regular season series, with each club sweeping the other on the road.
