The last game of the season at Madison Square Garden doesn’t hold much significance for the Knicks. They’ve already secured the No. 3 seed. It’s, well, a bit of a non-event for them.
This isn’t surprising; four of the five starters—excluding the reigning champion Mikal Bridges—are sitting out for their matchup with the Hornets. The Hornets, meanwhile, are eager to win, as they hope to secure the No. 9 seed.
Yet, the scoreboard is still catching the Knicks’ eye. They are likely set to face the Raptors in the first round, but this isn’t a certainty. It depends on multiple outcomes, all happening at the same time as the Knicks’ game (6 p.m.).
Here’s how it’s likely to play out:
Most likely
The Knicks would be tied with the Raptors in the first round.
For this to happen on Sunday:
- Toronto beats Brooklyn. Atlanta beats Miami.
or
- Brooklyn beats Toronto. Miami beats Atlanta. Boston beats Orlando.
Those struggling Nets are probably going to lose to the Raptors, but, interestingly, that might not hurt their lottery position (they could only really catch up to the Pacers if Indiana also loses). So, assuming that outcome, the Hawks seem favored to beat the Heat. But, since their seeding is likely secure, their drive to win isn’t very strong.
The Knicks can actually start preparing to scout the Raptors.
Possible, but unlikely
The Knicks could be tied with the Hawks in the first round.
This requires:
- Toronto beating Brooklyn. Miami beating Atlanta. Boston beating Orlando.
But achieving this is tough, primarily because you need two unlikely wins. The Magic, for instance, are highly motivated since they might slip out of the play-in spot. Meanwhile, the Celtics are resting several players since they’re locked into second place.
What happens if all these teams tie for sixth place in the East? If the Raptors win and the Hawks lose, they could wind up with 46 wins each, creating a complex tie-break scenario.
Unlikely
The Knicks might tie with the Magic in the first round.
This would necessitate:
- Brooklyn beating Toronto. Atlanta beating Miami. Orlando beating Boston.
Chances of this happening through the Nets are slim.
The most unlikely scenario
The Knicks tie with the Sixers in the first round.
For this to occur:
- Brooklyn beats Toronto. Boston beats Orlando. Philadelphia beats Milwaukee.
Again, the Nets would need a win against a highly motivated opponent—the Raptors, who want to avoid the play-ins—making this quite a stretch. Plus, the Celtics are expected to rest their players.
