New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference semifinals against a familiar foe after winning their first NBA playoff series in ten years.
Follow Us
The New York Knicks are traveling to South Beach with their skills. The Knicks are in the Eastern Conference semifinals against a familiar foe after winning their first NBA playoff series in ten years. A best-of-seven second-round series against the Miami Heat, who defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games, is the next stop on the road to the NBA Finals. The Knicks have won three of the previous five meetings between New York and Miami, making this their sixth playoff series overall.
Both clubs advanced from the first round of the playoffs, and the Miami Heat will meet the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Heat eliminated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in game five with a 128-126 overtime victory. With their victory on Wednesday, the Knicks eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Memphis Grizzlies continued to play in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors are one victory away from advancing to the West semifinals.
Jimmy Butler of Miami forced overtime in game five by converting with less than a second left and finished with 42 points. Butler recorded a record-breaking 56 points in game four. In the fourth quarter, the eighth-seeded Heat erased a 16-point deficit while the Bucks’ two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points. For the first time since 2013, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points to help the fifth-seeded Knicks defeat the Cavaliers 106-95 and advance through the first round of the playoffs.
Despite shooting just 3 of 12 from outside the arc, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Caris LeVert added 17 points to the total, while Darius Garland contributed 21 more. In the victory, Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points. Immanuel Quickley contributed 19 points off the bench while R.J. Barrett scored 21 points after making 7 of his 13 field goal attempts.
Even though they won, the Knicks might be without Julius Randle for some time. With just over 90 seconds left in the first half, Randle stood up to block a LeVert jump jumper close to the foul line. Randle’s left ankle landed directly on LeVert’s foot as he came back down. Randle was brought to the court in agony after his ankle took a jarring turn. He originally attempted to stand up but failed when the action was interrupted. When Randle finally left the court by himself, he went directly to the locker room.
Even though the injury’s seriousness is not yet known, it is not good news for the Knicks. In the semifinals, the Miami Heat will play the New York Knicks. After another incredible performance from Jimmy Butler on Wednesday night, the Heat, a play-in team, shocked the Milwaukee Bucks.
