{"id":39405,"date":"2025-05-17T15:18:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T15:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/39405\/"},"modified":"2025-05-17T15:18:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T15:18:18","slug":"starting-5-may-17-knicks-reach-east-finals-wnba-opens-game-7-awaits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/39405\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5, May 17: Knicks reach East Finals, WNBA opens, Game 7 awaits"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For the first time in 25 years, the Knicks are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals.<\/p>\n

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5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Knicks In Six: New York didn\u2019t have to make a comeback in series-clinching win<\/p>\n

The Breakthrough: How New York reached the East Finals for the 1st time since 2000<\/p>\n

Knicks-Pacers: A classic rivalry is renewed with a spot in the Finals on the line<\/p>\n

Thunder-Nuggets: Sunday\u2019s Game 7 in OKC will complete the 2nd round<\/p>\n

WNBA Tips Off: History made on Friday night, marquee matchups set for Saturday<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

Yesterday\u2019s scores\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"With no NBA games today, don\u2019t miss the first ABC doubleheader of the 2025 WNBA season. The Liberty open their title defense against the Aces (1 ET<\/a>) in a clash of the last two WNBA champs. Then, it\u2019s the first matchup of the season between last year\u2019s rookie phenoms when Caitlin Clark\u2019s Fever host Angel Reese\u2019s Sky (3 ET<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It all comes down to Sunday. The Thunder & Nuggets split their regular season series (2-2) and have split the first six games of their West Semis series (3-3). Tomorrow (3:30 ET, ABC), the tie will be broken and one of these teams will meet Minnesota in the West Finals.<\/p>\n

1. KNICKS RACE PAST CELTICS, ADVANCE TO EAST FINALS<\/p>\n

\"\"With a chance to reach the East Finals for the first time in a quarter century, the Knicks finally put together a full game against the Boston Celtics.<\/p>\n

The Knicks entered Friday with a 3-2 series lead, but had faced an average deficit of 22.6 points through the first five games of the series.<\/p>\n

Game 1: Down by as many as 20 points, rallied to win in overtime
\nGame 2: Down 20, rallied to win in final 15 seconds
\nGame 3: Down 31, lost by 22
\nGame 4: Down 14, rallied to win by 8
\nGame 5: Down 28, lost by 25<\/p>\n

On Friday, it was New York that played from ahead. After a Kristaps Porzingis 3-pointer tied the game 16-16 with 2:31 left in the opening quarter, the Knicks came out of a timeout and went on a 26-8 run to take control of the game and never looked back.<\/p>\n

Knicks 119, Celtics 81: Jalen Brunson (23 pts, 6 ast) and OG Anunoby (23 pts, 4 3pm) led six Knicks in double figures as New York never trailed beyond the opening minutes \u2013 held its first halftime lead of the series \u2013 and cruised to the series-clinching win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

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Exclamation Point: Not only did the Knicks clinch their first series at Madison Square Garden since 1999, they did it with their largest Playoff win (+38) in franchise history, topping the previous mark of +36 from 1970
\nStarting 5 Shines: NY\u2019s starters became the 5th quintet in NBA history<\/a> to feature four 20+ point scorers \u2013 Brunson, Anunoby, Mikal Bridges (22 pts, 4 3pm) and Karl-Anthony Towns (21 pts, 11 reb) \u2013 and the 5th record a triple-double (Josh Hart with 10 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) in a Playoff game
\n\u201cWhen you play with that kind of effort, it\u2019s inspiring to the team<\/a>\u201d \u2013 Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau on Hart, who became the 3rd Knick with a triple-double in a Playoff game and the 1st to do in a series-clinching game
\nMagic Brunson: Jalen posted his 25th straight Playoff game with at least 15 points and five assists, which is the 2nd longest such streak in NBA Playoff history behind only Magic Johson\u2019s 29 from 1986-87
\nFrom 3rd To ECF: The Knicks became just the 4th 3-seed to reach the Conference Finals since the league adopted this Playoff format in 1984. They look to become the first 3-seed to reach the NBA Finals since Milwaukee in 2021\u00a0<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next: The Knicks advance to face the 4-seed Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 1 is set for Wednesday, May 21 (8 ET, TNT) from Madison Square Garden as the Knicks hold home-court advantage over their longtime rivals (more in Section 4 \u2b07\ufe0f).<\/p>\n

2. KEYS TO NEW YORK\u2019S BREAKTHROUGH<\/p>\n

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The New York Knicks are headed to the East Finals for the first time since 2000.<\/p>\n

After being knocked out in the second round in back-to-back seasons, the Knicks were finally able to break through \u2013 eliminating the defending champion Celtics in six games to set up a series with the Pacers, who ended New York\u2019s Playoff run a year ago.<\/p>\n

How did they do it?<\/p>\n

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It began with tweaking the roster in the offseason. The Knicks not only resigned OG Anunoby, they acquired both Mikal Bridges (from Brooklyn) and Karl-Anthony Towns (from Minnesota) to shake up their Starting 5
\nBy adding Bridges alongside Anunoby, the Knicks have an elite defensive wing duo, which was needed when having to go through the championship tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the Playoffs
\nBy adding Towns, the Knicks have a stretch big that opened up the floor for the likes of Jalen Brunson (10.2 ppg in the paint) and Josh Hart (9.6 rpg, 1st among guards) to attack the basket and crash the boards, respectively
\nKing Of The Clutch: Last season, Brunson scored 106 clutch points (T-9th as NY went 15-15 in clutch games. This season, Brunson scored 156 clutch points (2nd) on helping NY go 17-11 and winning Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year
\nIn the Playoffs, Brunson leads all players with 43 clutch points, including a series-clinching 3 in the first round, as New York leads the postseason with six clutch wins (against only two losses)<\/p>\n

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Despite the changes to the lineup, the Knicks did not need long to get acclimated to the new talent in the rotation. It definitely helped that Bridges had played collegiate ball alongside Brunson and Hart already.<\/p>\n

New York was a top 4 team in the East by Nov. 14 \u2013 just three weeks into the season \u2013 and held 3rd place in the East every day from Dec. 15 until the end of the regular season
\nThe Knicks had a season-high nine-game win streak, but never dropped more than three straight all season, showing a consistency and resiliency that carried over to the postseason \u2013 New York has yet to drop consecutive Playoff games<\/p>\n

\u201cFound a way\u2026 keep sticking together.\u201d \u2013 Those were the words of Brunson as he walked off the MSG court on Friday, after being serenaded with MVP chants from the New York faithful, who have a connection to this team that plays with grit and determination each night.<\/p>\n

3. FIRST LOOK: KNICKS-PACERS RENEW RIVALRY IN EAST FINALS<\/p>\n

\"\"Reggie. Patrick. The Davis Boys. Oakley. Mason. Starks. Smits. Mark Jackson. Riley. Larry Brown. Larry Johnson. Carmelo. PG. Roy Hibbert. Haliburton. Brunson.<\/p>\n

Spike. Knicks vs. Hicks. Eight Points In Nine Seconds.<\/p>\n

The names and moments spring to mind. We\u2019re back to the beasts of the East. It\u2019s the Knicks and Pacers once again, with a berth in the NBA Finals on the line.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a rematch of last year\u2019s East Semifinals, won by the Pacers in seven games, which is their 3rd straight head-to-head series win in this storied rivalry. They\u2019ve matched up nine times in the Playoffs overall (IND 5-4) and this is their 4th clash in the East Finals (NYK 2-1).\u00a0<\/p>\n

1993: Knicks in 4 (1st Round)
\n1994: Knicks in 7 (East Finals)
\n1995: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)
\n1998: Pacers in 5 (East Semis)
\n1999: Knicks in 6 (East Finals)
\n2000: Pacers in 6 (East Finals)
\n2013: Pacers in 6 (East Semis)
\n2024: Pacers in 7 (East Semis)<\/p>\n

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The moments in the rivalry are legendary:<\/p>\n

Miller Time: Reggie\u2019s 25-point 4th quarter at Madison Square Garden in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals went down in history, including the legendary eight points in nine seconds<\/a>
\nEwing Strikes Back: The Captain dropped 24 points, 22 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks in Game 7 in 1994, taking the Knicks to the Finals, including a game-winning putback slam\u00a0<\/a>
\nA Miracle: Larry Johnson\u2019s four-point play<\/a> helped lift the Knicks to the Finals in 1999 \u2013 one of three huge threes he hit in the contest
\nHibbert Bars The Way: Roy Hibbert\u2019s huge block<\/a> on Carmelo Anthony epitomized the Pacers\u2019 defensive toughness in 2013<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always been close. The Knicks and Pacers have played 198 regular season games \u2013 the Knicks have won 102 to the Pacers\u2019 96.<\/p>\n

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They matched up again for seven games in last year\u2019s Eastern Conference Semifinals, with Indiana taking the decisive with an all-time shooting performance, knocking down 67.1% of their field goals.<\/p>\n

Down Swinging: The Knicks were shorthanded last year \u2013 Anunoby, Brunson, Julius Randle, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson missed time during last year\u2019s series. They\u2019re healthy now, adding talented swingman Mikal Bridges and stretch big Karl-Anthony Towns to the mix
\nObi, Oh My: Obi Toppin, selected by the Knicks with the No. 8 pick in 2020, was traded to the Pacers in 2023. He\u2019s averaging 8.5 PPG for Indiana this postseason<\/p>\n

The Knicks won this year\u2019s season series, 2-1. Towns led New York, averaging 30.3 pts and 12 reb on 56.6 FG%, while Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 25.3 pts on 61\/52.6 shooting splits, including a career-high 38 in Indiana\u2019s win on Nov. 10.<\/p>\n

Who will step up as a classic rivalry is renewed?<\/p>\n

4. FIRST LOOK: NUGGETS-THUNDER GAME 7 ON SUNDAY<\/p>\n

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This moment is one that Denver knows well. In a way, it\u2019s been inescapable.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets lost in seven games to the Timberwolves in last year\u2019s West Semis. They opened this postseason by taking the Clippers to seven and claiming their First Round matchup.<\/p>\n

Now with the Thunder as opposition, they\u2019ve produced the first Game 7 of these conference semifinals, marking three consecutive series fought down to the wire.<\/p>\n

Sunday afternoon (3:30 ET, ABC) at Paycom Center, Denver and Oklahoma City will duke it out one last time with a West Finals spot up for grabs.<\/p>\n

Mile-High Mania: Before the current streak of Game 7s for Nikola Joki\u0107 and Co., they were the last team to play as many in a row \u2013 four straight from 2019-20
\nStrange Stage: It\u2019s been a while for the Thunder. They last appeared in a winner-take-all contest back in 2020, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was in his first season with the team and Luguentz Dort was a rookie<\/p>\n

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This series has thrilled from the jump. One bucket decided Game 1, and Joki\u0107\u2019s 42-point, 22-rebound double-double didn\u2019t produce it.<\/p>\n

Aaron Gordon was to thank.<\/p>\n

Striking Gold, Twice: The 11th-year forward sank a 3-pointer with less than three seconds remaining to give Denver the 1-0 series lead. Then he drained a midrange jumper to put Game 3 out of reach for Oklahoma City
\nAir Gordon: Following his historic jam in Game 4 of the First Round, he now stands alone in the play-by-play era with multiple game-winning shots in the final five seconds of road games during one postseason<\/p>\n

The Thunder hit cruise control in Game 2 with the series\u2019 result via a 43-point triumph. But their two other wins came courtesy of:<\/p>\n

Closing The Door: They outscored the Nuggets, 63-37, across the final frames of Games 4 and 5 \u2013 the only instance this series where a team has won consecutive games
\nFourth Fortitude: Oklahoma City possesses a 1st-place 94.7 DefRtg in 4th quarters this postseason after finishing the regular season atop the league with 105.9 in that metric.<\/p>\n

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joki\u0107 have gone toe-to-toe as Kia NBA MVP finalists. They\u2019re averaging a combined 58.6 ppg this series while Joki\u0107 boasts 14.7 rpg and SGA owns 7.0 apg.<\/p>\n

Which one will shine brightest with their season at stake?<\/p>\n

5. WNBA OPENING WEEKEND CONTINUES<\/p>\n

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The 2025 WNBA season tipped off on Friday with the debut of its 13th franchise \u2013 the Golden State Valkyries \u2013 headlining a three-game night.<\/p>\n

History was made during the first-ever WNBA game played in the Bay Area on Friday. Not only was it the Valkyries debut, but it was the first time Kelsey Plum took the court for the L.A. Sparks \u2013 and she put on a show.<\/p>\n

Sparks 84, Valkyries 67: Just after Minnesota\u2019s Napheesa Collier matched the WNBA record for most points in a season debut (34), Plum topped it with 37 to lead the Sparks past the Valkyries in front of a sold-out Chase Center crowd. | Recap<\/a> | Warriors In The House<\/a>
\nPlum Wasn\u2019t Done: In addition to her 37 points, Plum had six dimes and five steals to become the first player in WNBA history to post a 35\/5\/5 game. Not just in a season opener \u2013 in any game
\nTiffany Hayes had 19 points and nine boards to lead the home team, while Kayla Thornton sank the first bucket<\/a> in Valkyries history<\/p>\n

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In addition to the Valkyries debut, Friday saw No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers take the court for her first regular-season game as a pro as the Wings hosted the Lynx.<\/p>\n

Lynx 99, Wings 84: The WNBA GMs tabbed Napheesa Collier as the MVP favorite and she looked the part, dropping 34 points to lead the Lynx, while Courtney Wiliams added 25 pts and 9 ast. Bueckers had 10 points (see her first bucket<\/a>) and seven boards in her WNBA debut, while Arike Ogunbowale and DiJonai Carrington combined to add 31 for Dallas. | Recap<\/a>
\nMystics 94, Dream 90: Lottery picks Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen combined for 33 points, Brittney Sykes added 22 as the Mystics overcame Allisha Gray\u2019s game-high 25 points and a combined 34 from Brittney Griner (18 pts, 8 reb) and Brionna Jones (16 pts, 10 reb) in their Dream debuts. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

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The WNBA Tip-Off Test Drive presented by CarMax continues Saturday with another three-game slate, including an ABC doubleheader.<\/p>\n

Aces at Liberty (1 ET, ABC): This is not just a matchup between the past two WNBA champions \u2013 the 2022 & 2023 champion Aces visit the 2024 champion Liberty \u2013 it\u2019s a rematch of last year\u2019s semifinals as New York defeated Vegas in four games to reach the Finals and dash the Aces\u2019 three-peat hopes
\nSky at Fever (3 ET, ABC): Last year\u2019s rookie phenoms meet for the first time as sophomores in the season opener for both teams. When these two clashed, it brought the WNBA\u2019s largest viewing audiences in two decades. What better matchup to cap off the first ABC doubleheader of the new season
\nStorm at Mercury (10 ET, LP<\/a>): A new era of Phoenix hoops begins following the retirement of Diana Taurasi and the departure of Brittney Griner in free agency. Phoenix added All-Stars Alyssa Thomas and Satou Sabally, who will welcome Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike and the Storm to open the season<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n