1999 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 6 vs Knicks

Lore & Background

The 1999 series was the third consecutive playoff meeting between the Heat and Knicks. The Knicks, as the #8 seed, defeated the #1 seed Heat in five games. Allan Houston's game-winning shot in Game 5 is one of the most famous moments in the rivalry. The Knicks went on to reach the 1999 NBA Finals, becoming the only 8th-seeded team to do so before the 2023 Miami Heat.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Madison Square Garden was thick with sweat and hatred. Alonzo Mourning stood over Larry Johnson, his chest heaving, eyes wide with a mixture of exhaustion and rage. The referee's whistle cut through the roar of the crowd, but it was too late to stop the explosion. A shove turned into a punch, and suddenly, the court was a sea of orange and blue jerseys colliding in a chaotic scrum. Mourning ripped his jersey off, discarding it on the hardwood as if shedding his identity along with his temper. He was dragged away by officials, his career for the season hanging in the balance. The silence that followed the ejection was heavier than the noise before. In the Heat locker room hours later, the mood was somber; they knew that without 'Zonzo', the mountain of a series was insurmountable. The dream of the first championship had shattered on the floor of the Garden.

Reader's Guide

Game 1: Knicks 95, Heat 75. Game 2: Heat 83, Knicks 73. Game 3: Knicks 97, Heat 73. Game 4: Heat 87, Knicks 72. Game 5: Knicks 78, Heat 77. The Knicks won the series 3–2.

Did You Know?

• The Knicks became the only 8th-seeded team in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals before the 2023 Miami Heat did it.
• Allan Houston hit a running one-hander that bounced off the front rim, then the backboard, and in with 0.8 seconds left to give New York a 78–77 victory in Game 5.