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The New York Knicks' historic run continues as they move one win away from the NBA Finals while breaking multiple playoff records.

Knicks’ Historic Run to the Finals Breaks Multiple NBA Records

The New York Knicks are chasing something that has never been done in NBA history. The basketball world is closely watching this playoff run.

Furthermore, they are not just winning playoff games. The Knicks’ historic run is breaking NBA records and putting together one of the most dominant postseason stretches.

Knicks’ Historic Run to the Finals Breaks Multiple NBA Records

The Knicks have won 10 straight playoff games during the 2026 postseason, making them the 10th team in NBA history to reach that mark. The streak is currently tied for the fifth-longest playoff winning streak in league history. But the real story is not just that they are winning.

The Knicks have not won an NBA championship since 1973. This current run has brought those glory days back to life for an entire city.

Numbers That Shocked the NBA

The Knicks have outscored their opponents by a combined 225 points across these 10 wins. That is the best point differential over any 10-game span in NBA history. Regular season or postseason, no team has ever matched that level of dominance.

Their average margin of victory during the streak stands at 22.5 points per game. That is the highest average margin for any 10-game postseason winning streak ever recorded. Nine of the 10 victories came by double digits.

During this streak, the Knicks have scored 1,222 total points while allowing just 997. The gap between scoring and defense has been overwhelming for every opponent.

The Knicks also became the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by 25 or more points. Their +212 point differential through the first nine wins was the best nine-game stretch the league has ever seen.

Numbers Prove Knicks’ Historic Run is Championship Bound

The Knicks are the 13th team to win at least nine straight games in a single postseason. Of those 13 teams, seven went on to win the NBA championship.

They are also the sixth team in NBA history to record a point differential of +200 or better over a nine-game stretch. The Oklahoma City Thunder did it earlier this same postseason.

The 1973 Knicks also hold a spot on that elite list. The connection between this current team and that legendary squad grows stronger by the game.

Thirty-three teams in NBA history have won at least nine playoff games by 10 or more points in a single postseason. Of those 33 teams, 31 made the NBA Finals. The numbers point in one direction.

Stars Driving This Run

Jalen Brunson has been the heartbeat of this playoff charge for New York. He scored 30 points with six assists in the Game 3 victory over the Cavaliers.

After that win, Brunson praised the traveling Knicks fan base for their energy. “They’re gonna be heard in whatever building they’re in,” Brunson said.

Not long ago, Karl-Anthony Towns was the subject of numerous trade rumors with conference rivals. But this season, the 30-year-old forward has reinvented his role during this dominant playoff streak. He is averaging 15.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists across the 10 wins.

His True Shooting Percentage of 69.3 shows how efficient he has been throughout the run. Before the Eastern Conference Finals, Towns and Brunson sat for a rare joint interview.

Towns opened up about a team turning point during that conversation. “There was a lot of things said… soul searching. Like, who do we want to be?” Towns said.

His answer was simple and direct: “We want to win.” That clarity has motivated the entire roster through this historic stretch.

Head coach Mike Brown has kept his team locked in amid the growing hype around New York. When asked about outside pressure, he kept his message simple.

“Everyone has expectations. We embrace that,” Brown said about the team’s approach to the postseason.

One Win Away From Glory

The third-seeded Knicks hold a 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Game 3 ended with a 121-108 Knicks victory on the road.

They are 10-2 overall in the 2026 playoffs and one win from the NBA Finals. A trip there would be their first since 1999.

No team in NBA history has ever blown a 3-0 series lead. Brunson kept the focus narrow after the Game 3 win.

“Just focus on one possession at a time,” Brunson said about the team’s approach to closing out the series.

That mentality has powered the Knicks through this postseason with a level of dominance the league has never witnessed. They are not just closing in on the NBA Finals. They are redefining what a playoff run can look like for an entire franchise. The next victory will write a new chapter in New York basketball history.

© David Richard-Imagn Images

About Zakir Hassan

Zakir covers the NBA for Last Word on Sports, with a focus on team building, player development, and the decisions that shape a franchise's future. An English literature graduate, he combines reporting and analysis to break down the league's biggest stories, from trade rumors and roster moves to playoff races and long-term team trends. His goal is simple: help readers understand not just what happened, but why it matters.