Knicks Face Challenging Playoff Road Ahead
INDIANAPOLIS – The Knicks certainly have several tough challenges ahead, but they’re not impossible to overcome.
Tom Thibodeau’s squad secured back-to-back victories in Boston and kicked off the playoff rounds. However, after losing the first two games at home against the Pacers, they are now on the opposite end of that struggle.
While the Celtics didn’t manage to become the sixth NBA team to win a seven-game series after such a start, for the Knicks to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, they must win four out of the next five, beginning with Game 3 on Sunday night.
Historically, 34 teams have managed to come back from a 0-2 deficit in playoff series.
Key Historical Comebacks in the Playoffs
It’s rare for teams to lose the first two games at home and still triumph in a best-of-seven series—it’s happened only five times.
1969 Lakers vs Warriors
In 1969, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain led their teams to a thrilling comeback, winning four straight games in the semifinals of the Western Conference after going down 0-2 in Los Angeles.
1994 Rockets vs. Suns
Following a comeback by Charles Barkley and the Suns in a five-game series against the Lakers, they started their matchup against the Rockets with two wins in Houston, only to lose four of the next five to Hakeem Olajuwon’s team.
Interestingly, during Michael Jordan’s brief baseball stint, the Rockets claimed their first consecutive title, a crucial year for the Knicks.
2005 Mavericks vs. Rockets
Years later, the Rockets found themselves in a similar predicament when they lost the first two games in Dallas, only for Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks to win the next two in Houston, eventually knocking out the Rockets in a first-round series extended to seven games.
2017 Celtics vs. Bulls
Tough times also lay ahead for Tom Thibodeau, who was coaching the Timberwolves in his first season after five seasons with the Bulls. That year, the Celtics overcame a 2-0 deficit gained in Boston during the opening round, eventually facing off against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Finals.
2021 Clippers vs. Mavericks
In an intriguing turn, the road team claimed victory in each of the first six games of their playoff series. Ultimately, the Clippers managed to win Game 7 in their home arena, led by the talented duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
That season, the Clippers came closest to reaching the NBA Finals, falling short to the Suns in the semi-finals.
