After missing the playoffs last season, the New York Knicks were determined not to let that happen again. They finished with the fifth-best record in the East and earned a first-round matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Their season rolls on as they dismantled Cleveland’s top-ranked defense in five games and will now play the Heat in Round 2. It’s the franchise’s first playoff series win in 10 years and only the second since 2001.

The Knicks were bullies on the glass in Game 5 and out-rebounded the Cavs 48-30. Mitchell Robinson played one of his best games of the campaign and had a monster double-double with 13 points and 18 boards. One negative; Julius Randle reinjured his ankle and played just 16 minutes.

Game 1 between the Knicks and the Heat is Sunday, April 30 @ 1:00 pm EST. New York Sports Betting sites have the Knicks at (-168) to win Game 1 at home.

Knicks into Second Round for first time in 10 years

Julius Randle’s health continues to be a concerning issue for the New York Knicks in this postseason run. The two-time all-star played only 16 minutes in the decisive win over Cleveland. He went into the locker room after tweaking his ankle and came back out in street clothes. Not a great sign.

Luckily, the Knicks made an incredible move this offseason when they signed Jalen Brunson. He’s been their catalyst offensively throughout the 2023 playoffs and is leading the team with (24.0) points per game. On top of that, he is leading the team with (4.8) assists and (2.2) steals.

RJ Barrett also came alive for the Knicks in Games 3, 4, and 5 after a shaky start to the series. He was able to give his team the offensive production that they were missing from Randle.

For the record, the Knicks played the Heat four times during the regular season and won three of those games. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals this Sunday promises to be the opening act of a thrilling series.