New York's struggles against the Celtics were mirrored in the team's season series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seed in the East. Like Boston, the Cavs swept the four-game set. How the Knicks fared in the first round probably did little to dispel the general fears about their championship credentials.

Captain Clutch lived up to his billing in the biggest of moments. Jalen Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year, got separation from Ausar Thompson and hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds to lead the Knicks to the Eastern Conference semifinals.