The New York Knicks have the chance to break the Houston Rockets’ record from the 1995 NBA playoffs.
The New York Knicks would end up getting an unlikely win on the road against the Indiana Pacers. The Eastern Conference Finals will now go at least five games, with the series now at 2-1.
Knicks fans finally have some hope that their team can mount a comeback. Things would have been dire for them had they gone down 3-0.
Jalen Brunson reminded the Pacers that the Knicks made several 20+ point comebacks against the Celtics, just as they did in Game 3.
But their Game 3 win marked an important milestone for them, one that sets the stage not just for a brilliant comeback, but one that allows them to make history.
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New York Knicks chasing 1995 Houston Rockets
Their Game 3 win against the Indiana Pacers marked the New York Knicks’ 6th road win during this playoff run.
They had 3 road wins in the first round against the Detroit Pistons, and they famously won the first 2 games at the TD Garden against the Boston Celtics.
If the Knicks can come back in this series, they would have to win at least 3 more games, which means they get two more chances to play on the road against the Pacers.
Wins in Game 4 and Game 6 would allow the Knicks to tie seven teams in second place for the most road wins in a playoff run, with 8 total.
The record for most wins in a playoff run is held by the 1994-95 NBA champion Houston Rockets, who won 9 games on the road en route to the title.
If the Knicks win the aforementioned Games and can win a road game against the Thunder or Timberwolves, they will tie the record. And winning two or more road games would shatter the record.
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NYK could get some measure of revenge
Of course, the 1995 Houston Rockets are famous for going back-to-back and winning two NBA championships in consecutive years.
For Knicks fans, breaking their record would be doubly sweet, as it would allow them to get some payback on the team that ended their championship hopes in the 1994 NBA Finals.
In 1994, the New York Knicks capitalized on Michael Jordan’s first retirement to reach the NBA Finals. But they ran into Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets, who vanquished them in 7 games.
Of course, nothing can take the pain away from losing a championship. Except one thing – winning a championship years later while besting a team that kept you from that goal 31 years ago.
It’s a highly unlikely path for the Knicks. But with how these playoffs have gone, it’s hard to rule out the Knicks pulling off these massive upsets.