New York Knicks Seeking 'Special' Homecourt Advantage at Madison Square Garden

The New York Knicks know just how meaningful homecourt advantage can be in the NBA playoffs.

The New York Knicks are looking to come home for the basketball holiday.

New York (45-32) hasn't held homecourt advantage in a first-round playoff series since 2013. The Knicks are currently in the tick of the chase for homecourt with five games left on their docket: entering Saturday play, they're on the wrong end of a tiebreaker with the Orlando Magic for fourth place, one game behind Cleveland for third, and even have an outside shot for second, as they're two behind Milwaukee.

At 25-14, the Knicks have the fourth-best home record in the Eastern Conference. Though they're a respectable 20-18 away from Manhattan, there's no denying that the Madison Square Garden volume can serve as a sixth man. The latest example of MSG magic came on Thursday, when the Knicks erased a 21-point deficit to earn a 120-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Apr 4, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

"To call this place home, to feed off (the fans') energy is special, especially in the second half, the fourth quarter, whatever that was," Jalen Brunson said after Thursday's win over the Kings, in video from SNY. "It's really fun to feel better here."

Homecourt advantage played a role in last year's postseason run: the Knicks went 4-1 in five MSG games but that one loss, Game 1 of the second-round set against Miami, proved to be costly, as New York never recovered from the home loss and dropped the series in six.

The Knicks won't return to MSG until Friday against the Brooklyn Nets, but they are back in action on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks (7 p.m. ET, MSG/NBA TV).