Sunday’s Game 7 against the Pacers will be the Knicks’ first game since 2000. The Post’s Zach Braziler looks back at some of the most memorable Game 7s.
2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks 83, Heat 82
For the fourth year in a row, the Knicks and Heat will meet in the postseason, making for a long series.
This time, the Knicks won by one point in Miami, winning for the third consecutive year.
Latrell Sprewell’s 24 points led the Knicks, but Patrick Ewing’s dunk with just over a minute left took the lead for good in a hard-fought game between two physical, defensive-minded teams.
The unsung hero was Chris Childs, who scored 15 points off the bench and helped Tim Hardaway’s nightmarish 6-of-20 shooting performance.
1997 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Heat 101, Knicks 90
The Knicks won 57 games during the regular season and appeared headed for a new showdown with Michael Jordan and the Bulls before blowing a 3-1 series lead against the Heat in a Game 5 brawl in Miami. It looks like.
In Game 7, the Knicks were without Larry Johnson and John Starks, who came off the bench during the riot, and were overwhelmed by Hardaway (38 points).
Ewing gave it his all, posting 37 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 assists even in the loss.
1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Pacers 97, Knicks 95
The Knicks’ recent Game 7 at the Garden ended in disastrous fashion with Ewing’s failed finger roll at the buzzer that would have forced overtime.
Reggie Miller was the hero for the Pacers, scoring eight points in nine seconds and scoring 29 points after losing Game 1 to Indiana.
Ewing also had an impressive 29 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, but it was his miss at the horn that sticks out in the memory of this epic showdown.
1994 NBA Finals: Rockets 90, Knicks 84
John Starks Game.
The Knicks guard lost to the Rockets by six points, but made 2 of 18 shots from the field and 0 of 11 from 3-point range.
Hakeem Olajuwon outscored Ewing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in a dominant 46 minutes.
1994 Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks 94, Pacers 90
One of the games that earned Ewing a place in the Hall of Fame.
In a memorable 44 minutes, he had 24 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks, sending the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.
His putback dunk on a Starks miss with 26.9 seconds to play was the game-winner.
Miller made a mistake on the other end and committed a flagrant foul trying to stop the clock with seconds left.
1973 Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks 94, Celtics 78
The Celtics lost Game 7 at their home Boston Garden for the first time as Walt Frazier led the eventual NBA champion Knicks to a 16-point road victory with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Before this surprising result, Boston had won eight straight Game 7 games on the parquet floor.
1970 NBA Finals: Knicks 113, Lakers 99
Captain and league MVP Willis Reed, who is suffering from a strained muscle in his right thigh, limped to the floor as a surprise starter and inspired his teammates with a pair of early jumpers.
Frazier finished the remaining games with 36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds, leading the Knicks to their first NBA title.
Afterwards, Reed says: “I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror 20 years from now and say I wish I had played.”
1951 NBA Finals: Royals 79, Knicks 75
The Knicks are one of only four teams in NBA history to fall behind 3-0 in a series, forcing a Game 7. However, the turnaround could not be completed as Rochester’s Ernie Risen dominated with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
