In five games, Duncan averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, one steal, and 2.2 blocks per game and earned Finals MVP honors.Īn unfavorable ending to an improbable story, the 1998-1999 Knicks will forever be regarded as one of the most special and unique stories in NBA history. Tim Duncan proved too much for the Knicks to handle in his hunt for his first NBA title. The Spurs were the best team in the NBA in 1998-99, posting a 37-13 record during the regular season. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they had to face David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and the Spurs in the NBA Finals. As a result, the 1998-99 Knicks become the first and only No. With the series tied 2-2, Latrell Sprewell and Alan Houston shouldered the scoring load to help Knicks win the next two games and the series. ![]() Games 1-3 had a combined deficit of six points, with no team winning a game by more than three points. In a highly-contested series, the two teams battled for six games. As if the Knicks needed any more momentum or motivation as the eighth seed, they were hungry for revenge against the team that sent them home just a year before. 2 seed Pacers had several talented players such as Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, and Jalen Rose, among others. Next up for the Knicks was a rematch with the Pacers, who had eliminated them from the NBA Playoffs the year prior. The Hawks may have been the higher seed, but the Knicks showed they were the better team. The Knicks won all four games of the series by at least seven points while holding the Hawks to 78 points or less in Games 2-4. Led by defensive anchor Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith, the Hawks didn’t pose much of a threat to the Knicks. It created a snowball effect that propelled them to sweep the Hawks in the second round of the 1999 Eastern Conference Playoffs. One shot helped ignite a team, a fanbase, and a city to believe they have what it takes to beat anyone on any given night.
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