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THE NEW YORK KNICKS QUEST FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP |
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| Game | Date | Place | Time | Final |
| Game 1 | Sun./ May 7, 2000 | Away | 12:30 pm | L - 87-83 |
| Game 2 | Tue./ May 9, 2000 | Away | 8:00 pm | W - 82-76 |
| Game 3 | Fri./ May 12, 2000 | Home | 8:00 pm | L - 77-76 OT |
| Game 4 | Sun./ May 14, 2000 | Home | 12:30 pm | W - 91-83 |
| Game 5 | Wed./ May 17, 2000 | Away | 8:00 pm | L - 87-81 |
| Game 6 | Fri./ May 19, 2000 | Home | 9:00 pm | W - 72-70 |
| Game 7 | Sun./ May 21, 2000 | Away | 4:00 pm | W - 83-82 |
Round 2 - Game 1 - Knicks at MiamiOne of the most anticipated match-ups in the NBA playoffs,
the Knicks and Heat picked up where they had left off just
a year ago. In what has become one of the biggest rivalries
in the Eastern Conference, New York and Miami stepped on to the
court realizing that they were about to begin the first battle of
what is sure to be a long war. Game 1 was as close as everyone
thought it would be with 11 ties and 14 lead changes throughout.
The momentum swayed from one team to the other and both coaches realized
that this one would come down to the wire. With a battle between the Georgetown Centers,
a coaching duel between teacher and student, and a contest between the two toughest defensive teams in the NBA,
the game was stirred with emotion and intensity.
The score was tied with one minute to go,
and although the Knicks had done it so many times before, the last minute heroics
came from Alonzo Mourning and the Miami Heat.
With 41.8 seconds left in regulation, Mourning hit a shot to put the Heat up 85-83. After
the Knicks brought the ball up the court, Dan Majerle tipped a pass from
Allan Houston, and stole the ball. Instead of fouling, and stopping the clock, the Knicks decided to
rely on their defensive skills to make a final stand, but with 5.6 seconds left in the game,
Alonzo Mourning swished a 17-foot jump shot that sealed the victory for the Heat and gave them a 1-0 lead in the series.
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Round 2 - Game 2 - Knicks at MiamiGame 2 was not one of the prettiest displays of basketball that
fans have seen in the playoffs this year, but then again, beauty
does not win championships. The Heat took a 13-12 lead in the first
quarter, and after the Knicks scored 11 consecutive points, the lead
never changed hands again. In the first half, the Knicks shot a
miserable 26% from the field, but managed to hold a four point lead
at the break. The Heat's offense did not shoot well either, with the
team tieing their all-time lowest shot percentage in a playoff game, with
only 34%. The horrible display of shooting from the Heat was also abundant
in their free throw attempts, making only 14 out of a possible 33 shots. The Heat came
within one point late in the third quarter, 51-50, but the Knicks retaliated with
a 21-4 run, giving them a 72-54 lead with only seven minutes left in regulation.
Miami made a strong push at the end of the game, but the Knicks defensive
pressure, once again, was just too much for their opponents. The road victory
was an important one, as it took the home-court advantage away from the Heat.
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Round 2 - Game 3 - Miami at Knicks
The Knicks returned to the Garden, in front of a raucous crowd, but were unable to take advantage of
their opportunity, as the Heat stole a victory at the buzzer.
Like the other games in this series, the lead changed hands often, and the score remained close throughout the
contest. Game 3 displayed not one, but two heroic shots that would ultimately add to the intensity
of the game and the emotion in the series. With less than one minute left to play in the game, the
Knicks were down by two and had possession of the ball. Allan Houston ran into a double-team down court and passed the ball to a wide opened Patrick Ewing. From about twenty
feet from the basket, Ewing took a shot as the Garden crowd went silent. The shot went in with 2.2
seconds left on the clock, and the game went into overtime. With
13 seconds left on the clock in overtime, Patrick Ewing hit one of two free throws to put the Knicks up 76-75. Miami took
the ball down the floor and got it to rookie Anthony Carter, who falling out of bounds threw up a shot in
desperation from behind the basket, that hit the rim and went in. Referees conferred on the contreversial shot, and decided it counted to
make the score 77-76, giving the Heat the lead, and ultimately the victory.
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Round 2 - Game
4 - Miami at Knicks
Game 4 was the highest-scoring game of a series that had been dominated by tough defense and marked by poor shooting performances. The big story of this game was Charlie Ward. Ward ended the game
scoring the Knicks last 9 points and finished with a career-playoff high of 20. It was only the third
time this year that the point guard led the team in scoring in a game. With the Garden crowd on their feet chanting "Charlie..Charlie," the Knicks held off the Heat to win the game and tie the
series at two games apiece.
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Round 2 - Game 5 - Knicks at Miami
Game 5 was a close battle, with both teams shooting better than they had previously in the series. Midway through the fourth quarter the score was tied at 68, but a late offensive surge by the Miami Heat lead to a Knick loss. Dan Majerle, the Heat veteran, put on a shooting clinic for the Knicks, as he took a 27 foot shot from way behind the three point line that hit nothing but the bottom of the net. The Heat took the lead, but with 14 seconds left in the game,
Chris Childs hit a wide opened three pointer to narrow the lead to three points and keep the Knicks' hopes alive. The Heat took the ball down the floor, and when the Knicks fouled Jamal Mashburn intentionally, he hit both free throws
to put the Heat up by five. Sprewell, who had 24 points in the game, missed a forced three pointer, and the Heat held on for the victory, and took a 3 games to 2 lead in the series.
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Round 2 - Game 6 - Miami at Knicks
Facing elimination and with their backs to to the wall, the Knicks came home to the Garden understanding that they had to win Game 6. The first half of the game belonged to the Heat, and it seemed as if the Knicks' season and any hopes of returning to the Eastern Conference Finals were over. At one point in the game, the Heat led by 18 points and it looked as if there was no way for New York to get back into the game. Down by 15 at the break, the Knicks came out for the second half on fire. With their desire to bring a Game 7 to the series, the Knicks slowly climbed back into the game. With 17.6 seconds left in the game, Allan Houston hit two clutch free throws to mark the biggest playoff comeback in Knick history. The Heat had a chance to take back the lead, but Anthony Carter's three pointer missed. The Knicks won 72-70, with the two teams combining to match an NBA playoff-low point total.
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Round 2 - Game 7 - Knicks at Miami
After the effort that the Knicks gave in Game 6, many wondered if they had enough in them to beat the Heat on the road in Game 7. A win would mean taking the series and an opportunity to return to the Eastern Conference Finals.
It is fitting that in one of the closest and hard fought series in Knick history, that the outcome would be decided on a defensive stand in the final seconds of the game. This game was another nail-biter, and like everyone had
expected, the score was tied with only a few minutes left in the game. With the Heat leading 82-81, after a big three-pointer from Tim Hardaway, Patrick Ewing dunked on Alonzo Mourning with 1:20 left to take back the lead 83-82. The rest
of the game was defense for both teams, as both Heat and Knicks turnovers led to a Clarence Weatherspoon missed shot that was rebounded by Latrell Sprewell with 2.1 seconds left on the clock. After a timeout, the Knicks in-bounded the ball to hold on to the victory and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second year in a row. This series also marked the third year in a row that the Knicks defeated the Heat in the final game of the series, in Miami.
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New York Knicks - First Round Playoff Results vs. Toronto Raptors
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| Game | Date | Place | Time | Final |
| Game 1 | Sun./ April 23, 2000 | Home | 12:30 pm | W - 92-88 |
| Game 2 | Wed./ April 26, 2000 | Home | 8:00 pm | W - 84-83 |
| Game 3 | Sun./ April 30, 2000 | Away | 12:30 pm | W - 87-80 |
Round 1 - Game 1 - Toronto at KnicksThe first game of the
series proved to be an exciting one as the Knicks welcomed the Raptors to the playoffs in true New York Knick defensive fashion.
The Knicks started the game strong and with a lot of energy in front of a very loud and anxious New York crowd. The team took an early lead in the opening minutes of the game,
and never looked back. Vince Carter, the Raptors superstar, was overwhelmed by the Knicks defensive intensity. Carter shot a miserable 3-20 from the field
and was held to a mere 16 points in the game. After the half, the Raptors came out of the locker room ready to put up a fight.
Ahead by 19 at one point in the game, the Knicks let the lead dwindle. In the closing minutes of the second
half the score was tied at 85. With 42.8 seconds left, Larry Johnson hit a clutch 3-pointer that put the Knicks up for good.
Chris Childs sealed the victory for the Knickerbockers with two late game free throws. The Knicks ended Game 1 with a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd
in Madison Square Garden.
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Round 1 - Game
2 - Toronto at Knicks
In a game that would show what the Knicks were truly made of, Game 2, much like the first game of the series,
was decided in the last minute of the game. In the beginning of the game, the Knicks got off to a slow
start and trailed for most of the contest. The Raptors did not let the Knicks get back into the game;
that is until the fourth quarter arrived. Down by 14 at one point in the fourth, Larry Johnson scored 8
straight points in the middle of the quarter to cut the lead to three and spark the crowd in Madison Square Garden.
After Johnson fouled out, the Knicks resorted to their hot-hand and "go-to-guy" Latrell Sprewell to come
to the rescue. With 13 of the Knicks last 17 points in the game, Sprewell showed Vince Carter that he could not
be covered. Although Carter's performance was better than
in the first game of the series, recording 27 points, he was no
match for Sprewell's intense fourth quarter offensive attack.
With 26 seconds left on the clock the Knicks regained possession of the ball. Sprewell now had the
opportunity to go one-on-one with Carter, and with 7.9 seconds
left in the game, he hit a fade away jumper in the box that
would ultimatly be the game winner. Toronto had the ball and
the chance to win when they inbounded the ball to Carter, who
was met by Knick double-coverage, and opted to pass the ball
to a wide open Dee Brown. Brown took the last second shot,
and to New York's delight, the ball hit the back of the rim
and didn't go in. Sprewell and Johnson combined to hit
21 of the last 25 points scored by the Knicks and proved to be
the game's heroes.
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Round 1 - Game 3 - Knicks at Toronto
Game 3 was the first NBA playoff game ever played in Canada, and although there was a change in scenery, with 22 lead changes, the game was just as close as the previous two in the series. The Knick starters were consistent on both
sides of the ball, as all five players ended the game scoring in double digits. The Knicks double team defense once again shut down Vince Carter, as he recorded yet
another miserable playoff shooting performance, scoring only 15 points, and shooting 5-15 field goals. With 1:34 minutes left in the final quarter, and the score tied,
the game was to be decided by the team that wanted to win most. That team was the New York Knicks, as they kept their composure and illustrated that
experience pays off in the playoffs. This game, like the others, would end with some last-minute heroics by the Knicks offense, and a sweep of the Toronto
Raptors. Alan Houston nailed a 22-foot jumper with 44 seconds left on the clock to give the Knicks an 82-78 lead, however, the shot that sealed the
victory for the Knicks, was a wide-opened three-pointer that Larry Johnson banked in with only 24.2 seconds left in the game. The series ended as it had started, with Johnson hitting a big shot to ensure the
Knicks a victory. Post game interviews reflected on the game, but most of the Knick's attention was directed towards the Miami Heat, and the second round of the NBA playoffs.
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KNICKS NBA FINALS APPEARANCES |
| 1999 v. San Antonio Spurs | (lost 4-1) |
| 1994 v. Houston Rockets | (lost 4-3) |
| 1973 v. Los Angeles Lakers | (won 4-1) |
| 1972 v. Los Angeles Lakers | (lost 4-1) |
| 1970 v. Los Angeles Lakers | (won 4-3) |
| 1953 v. Minneapolis Lakers | (lost 4-1) |
| 1952 v. Minneapolis Lakers | (lost 4-3) |
| 1951 v. Rochester Royals | (lost 4-3) |
Last Updated On:
Friday, April 20, 2001 | |
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| 2 Washington Street, 15th Fl., New York, NY 10004 / Toll Free: 877.NYC.SPORTS / Fax: 212.788.7514 |
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