Overview
- New York clinched the Eastern Conference title after a 12-2 playoff run that included a six-game win over Atlanta and sweeps of Philadelphia and Cleveland.
- Jalen Brunson has been the on-court leader driving the run with high scoring and late-game playmaking that repeatedly changed games for the Knicks.
- Karl‑Anthony Towns will make his first NBA Finals appearance at age 30 and has shifted this postseason into a distributor role, averaging about 5.9 assists and 16.9 points.
- The city has responded with intense fan and celebrity attention at Madison Square Garden while the team rests and waits for the Western winner, which will be decided in Game 7 on May 30.
- The Finals open on June 3 on the road, Madison Square Garden will host Games 3 and 4, and matchup dynamics will hinge on whether the opponent is the younger, athletic Thunder or the Spurs with Victor Wembanyama.