Only One Victory Standing In Way Of Another Miami Heat-New York Knicks Series

The Miami Heat and New York Knicks still have unfinished business in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Both hold 3-1 leads in their respective series but it's hard to ignore what happens if each wins another game. It would rekindle what was once one of the best rivalries in postseason history.

They have the opportunity to clinch Wednesday, with Knicks facing the Cleveland Cavaliers first and then the Heat against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Neither team can afford to look ahead because of the quality of their opponents. The Cavs can get hot at any time with the electric backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland while the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are still the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason.

"The series is still going," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "And we have great respect for the championship DNA that group has."

Added Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, “There’s nothing to celebrate [until the series is clinched]. There’s nothing to be truly happy about.”

If they win, a Knicks-Heat series will conjure memories of Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing. The teams met in the playoffs four straight times from 1997-2000. Their last postseason series was 2012.

The following year the Heat and Knicks were the top two seeds in the East but their conference finals was spoiled by New York losing to the Indiana Pacers in the semifinals.

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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