{"id":197091,"date":"2026-05-24T18:35:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T22:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=197091"},"modified":"2026-05-24T18:35:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T22:35:47","slug":"knicks-historic-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/24\/knicks-historic-run\/","title":{"rendered":"Knicks&#8217; Historic Run to the Finals Breaks Multiple NBA Records"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The New York Knicks are chasing something that has never been done in NBA history. The basketball world is closely watching this playoff run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, they are not just winning playoff games. The Knicks&#8217; historic run is breaking NBA records and putting together one of the most dominant postseason stretches.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Knicks&#8217; Historic Run to the Finals Breaks Multiple NBA Records<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Knicks have <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/24\/knicks-are-breaking-the-nba-playoffs-historic-win-streak\/\" target=\"_self\">won 10 straight playoff games<\/a> during the 2026 postseason, making them the 10th team in NBA history to reach that mark. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" style=\"max-width: 800px\"><smartframe-embed class=\"smartframe_wp_element\" customer-id=\"b0c95bc04383cef69c6b47df872135cf\" image-id=\"WmOBGSsddJZw\" style=\"width: 100%; display: inline-flex; max-width: 6000px; aspect-ratio: 6000\/4000;\" ><\/smartframe-embed><\/p>\n<h3>Numbers That Shocked the NBA<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Knicks have outscored their opponents by a combined <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/inside-the-numbers-of-knicks-10-game-winning-streak\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">225 points<\/a> across these 10 wins. That is the best point differential over any 10-game span in NBA history. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular season or postseason, no team has ever matched that level of dominance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their average margin of victory during the streak stands at 22.5 points per game. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That is the highest average margin for any 10-game postseason winning streak ever recorded. Nine of the 10 victories came by double digits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Knicks also became the first team in NBA history to win three straight playoff games by 25 or more points. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/nba\/news\/knicks-best-nine-game-run-nba-history-weak-east\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">+212 point differential<\/a> through the first nine wins was the best nine-game stretch the league has ever seen.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Numbers Prove Knicks&#8217; Historic Run is Championship Bound<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Stars Driving This Run<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brunsja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jalen Brunson<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been the heartbeat of this playoff charge for <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/23\/jalen-brunsons-adjustment-mechanics\/\" target=\"_self\">New York<\/a>. He <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scored<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 30 points with six assists in the Game 3 victory over the Cavaliers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After that win, Brunson praised the traveling Knicks fan base for their energy. \u201cThey\u2019re gonna be heard in whatever building they\u2019re in,\u201d Brunson <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYtQRpPFGGk\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not long ago, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/townska01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Karl-Anthony Towns<\/a> was the subject of numerous <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/01\/20\/knicks-rumors-karl-anthony-towns-trade-grizzlies-magic-hornets\/\" target=\"_self\">trade rumors<\/a> with conference rivals. But this season, the 30-year-old forward has reinvented his role during this dominant playoff streak. He is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask?q=karl-anthony+towns+stats+last+ten+playoff+games+2026\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">averaging<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 15.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.9 assists across the 10 wins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Towns opened up about a team turning point during that conversation. \u201cThere was a lot of things said\u2026 soul searching. Like, who do we want to be?\u201d Towns <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYiOqKfjwJ5\/?img_index=3\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYiOqKfjwJ5\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\"color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His answer was simple and direct: \u201cWe want to win.\u201d That clarity has motivated the entire roster through this historic stretch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cEveryone has expectations. We embrace that,\u201d Brown <a  href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/10\/22\/sports\/knicks-start-mike-brown-era-with-hard-fought-win-over-cavaliers\/#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20expectations%20are%20extremely%20high%2C%20but%20we%E2%80%99re%20not%20going%20to%20get%20ahead%20of%20ourselves%2C%E2%80%9D%20Brown%20said.%20%E2%80%9CWhether%20we%20won%20or%20lost%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20one%20game%2C%20and%20we%20feel%20like%20as%20the%20season%20goes%20along%2C%20we%E2%80%99re%20going%20to%20get%20better.%C2%A0\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">said<\/a> about the team\u2019s approach to the postseason.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>One Win Away From Glory<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third-seeded Knicks hold a 3-0 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/05\/23\/knicks-vs-cavaliers-3\/\" target=\"_self\">Game 3<\/a> ended with a 121-108 Knicks victory on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No team in NBA history has ever blown a 3-0 series lead. Brunson kept the focus narrow after the Game 3 win.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJust focus on one possession at a time,\u201d Brunson <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYtYp_RG9E3\/?img_index=3\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">said<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about the team\u2019s approac<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">h<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to closing out the series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u00a9 David Richard-Imagn Images<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217; historic run is breaking NBA records and putting together one of the most dominant postseason stretches. Knicks&#8217; Historic Run to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5867,"featured_media":197124,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,62,12,3],"tags":[50432,1417,213,3717],"class_list":["post-197091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-nba","category-knicks","category-news","tag-2026-nba-playoffs","tag-jalen-brunson","tag-karl-anthony-towns","tag-mike-brown"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5867"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=197091"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197126,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/197091\/revisions\/197126"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/197124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=197091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=197091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=197091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}