Knicks vs Celtics

Lore & Background

Between 1966 and 1980, the Bulls and Knicks were inter-conference rivals, as the Bulls played in the Western Division/Conference during this period. Both teams were regularly present in the NBA playoffs during the late 1960s to mid-1970s, but neither met in the NBA Finals. In the 1980 offseason, the Bulls moved to the Eastern Conference, making their rivalry with the Knicks an intra-conference affair. The two teams' first playoff meeting was in the first round of the 1981 NBA playoffs, a best-of-three series. Chicago, under head coach Jerry Sloan, won both games to sweep the series against New York 2–0. The rivalry intensified in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with notable playoff series in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996. The 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals went to a decisive Game 7, which the Bulls won 110–81. The 1993 Eastern Conference Finals featured the 'Charles Smith Game' where Knicks forward Charles Smith was stopped four straight times by blocks and strips in the final seconds. In 1994, the Knicks won their only playoff series against the Bulls during this era, advancing past Chicago in seven games. The Bulls defeated the Knicks in the 1996 Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Madison Square Garden was thick with cigar smoke and anticipation, a sensory overload unique to New York playoff nights. As the Celtics took the court in their iconic green, the roar from the Knicks' faithful section shook the rafters. It wasn't just a game; it was a continuation of a war that had started decades prior, where every foul called felt personal and every basket swished with the weight of history. The players knew that tonight, they weren't just playing for a win, but to add another chapter to the greatest rivalry in basketball.

Reader's Guide

The rivalry is best understood through its key playoff meetings: 1981 (Bulls sweep), 1989 (Bulls win 4–2), 1991 (Bulls sweep), 1992 (Bulls win 4–3), 1993 (Bulls win 4–2), 1994 (Knicks win 4–3), and 1996 (Bulls win 3–1 in a best-of-five). Notable players include Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, and John Starks. The Bulls' first dynasty (1988–1993) and second dynasty (1993–1998) defined the rivalry's peak. The 1994 series included a controversial foul call by Hue Hollins in Game 5 and a brawl between Jo Jo English and Derek Harper in Game 3.

Did You Know?

• The Bulls and Knicks met in the playoffs during six of the eight years from 1989 to 1996.
• In Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals, Michael Jordan scored 54 points, the most against the Knicks in a playoff game by any player.
• The 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals was the only time the Knicks beat the Bulls in the playoffs during this era.
• In 1992, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, and Scottie Pippen won gold medals as members of the 'Dream Team' at the 1992 Summer Olympics.