Knicks Beat Celtics Behind Michael Beasley’s 32 Points

The New York Knicks haven’t made the NBA playoffs since the 2012-13 season, when they finished 54-28 and made it to the Eastern Conference semi finals before losing to the Indiana Pacers.  They were an abysmal 17-65 in ’14-’15, and were 31-51 last year. The Knicks were basically irrelevant during the Phil Jackson Era of 2013-17, when the ex coach was New York’s president of basketball operations.  Jackson was replaced earlier this year by Scott Perry.  The team also traded Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City; Jackson and Anthony did not get along.

This season, the Knicks have been competitive, despite Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis missing time due to injuries.  They started the season 0-3 but were 16-11 since then when they hosted the Eastern Conference leading Boston Celtics on December 21st.  The Knicks led 25-15 after one quarter, but the lead was down to four at halftime, and it was tied after three quarters, before the Knicks put it away 102-93.  Michael Beasley scored a career high 32 points for the Knicks.

With the victory, the Knicks improved to 17-14 on the season, tying them with the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and that hypothetical “if the season ended today they’d be in the playoffs “ scenario is true.  Basically, Boston, Toronto, and Cleveland are well up on top of the Conference, and about six teams are bunched together after that, including the Knicks, who have as good a chance as any of those other teams vying for the remaining playoff berths.