After managing to clinch their spot in the playoffs after eight long years, the Knicks finished their regular campaign with a 96-92 win over Boston Celtics. The win ensured that the Knicks clinch the number four spot in the Eastern Conference table and as a result, earn a home advantage when they face fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.
Have the New York Knicks exceeded expectations with a playoff spot?
New York Knicks finished their season with a 41-31 record and held onto a late charge by the seventh-seeded Celtics.
Julius Randle led the charge at the Madison Square Garden with a 20 point, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists outing. The Celtics, without Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, were punished for a lacklustre second quarter which only yielded 15 points whereas the Knicks scored double of that tally to walk away with a 15-point lead at half-time.
“It didn’t matter then and it doesn’t matter now, People really didn’t believe in us at the start of the season … it’s about what we believe in the locker room.” Randle said following the win.
Despite landing a crucial home advantage over the rising Atlanta Hawks, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau downplayed the whole concept of having a potential hand over their playoffs opponents.
“That means nothing going into the playoffs,” Thibodeau said. “So the regular season is the regular season. When you play those games there are a lot of things that go into it. There could be players out. There could be travel involved.
“We know how well they’re playing. They’ve gotten a lot better as the season has gone on. So we’re going to have to be ready. We’re going to have to play a 48-minute game.“
The Knicks have had a 25-11 record at the Madison Square Garden this campaign so far. The last time the franchise made it to the playoffs, they managed to ward off the Celtics in six games before succumbing to Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals.
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