76ers Rival New York Knicks Headed to 2023 NBA Playoffs
Philadelphia 76ers’ Atlantic Division rivals the New York Knicks are headed to the playoffs for the first time in two seasons.
While the Knicks could’ve clinched as early as Saturday night, they weren’t getting any help from the competition. With a night off, the Knicks could’ve benefitted from a Miami Heat victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
But as the Mavericks struggled against Jimmy Butler and the Heat, the Knicks had to wait at least another day to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Going into Sunday’s slate, the Knicks had an early matchup against the Washington Wizards. With a victory over the Wizards, the Knicks would advance to 46-33 on the year, which would allow New York to crack a spot in the postseason.
Despite missing one of their key players as Julius Randle continues to recover from an ankle setback, the Knicks received a stellar effort from Quentin Grimes and Jalen Brunson, who each scored 27 points. Immanuel Quickly and Obi Toppin also combined for 43 points.
The Knicks defeated the Wizards 118-109. They became the fifth team to crack a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. If the season ended today, the Knicks would take on the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Meanwhile, the Sixers would face the other New York-based team, as the Brooklyn Nets hold the sixth seed.
Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.
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