The Knicks have a high chance of solidifying the three seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning their first-round matchup would be against the eventual sixth seed. As of Tuesday, there are three teams with a good shot to land the sixth spot in the East: the Hawks, 76ers, and Raptors.
While the Knicks have beaten the Raptors in all four matchups this season thus far, they've split the season series against the Hawks (1-1) and the 76ers (2-2) so far. On top of their even records against those opponents, they could be facing an Atlanta squad that is 16-4 over their past 20 games or a Philadelphia team that's finally at full strength.
Back-to-back losses to the Thunder and Hornets, and Tuesday night's embarassment against the Rockets, reaffirm this team's inconsistencies. A first-round matchup with a dangerous opponent is daunting, but might just be the perfect opportunity for this team to continue to grow.
Knicks looked battle-tested after a tough first-round last season
On their way to reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, the Knicks had a tough road there starting with Detroit. Although the Pistons were not quite the force they are now, many fans correctly believed they would give New York some problems early on.
The Knicks came out victorious with only a +8 point differential in the series. Four of the contests were decided by three or less points. It's safe to say this series was a grind for New York, which played its role in their underdog victory over the Celtics in round two.
Boston played a Magic team in the first round which was considered far less dangerous than Detroit. The Celtics won the matchup in five games, posting a +64 point differential in the series.
Last year's Knicks squad was put to the test in close games early on in the playoffs, while the Celtics got used to blowing opponents out. New York went on to thrive in close games and clutch situations throughout their series win over Boston, winning each of the first two games in the series by three points or fewer.
A statement win for the Knicks couldn't come at a better time
As the regular season winds down, the Knicks' playoff opponent is far from set in stone. There's no telling whether they will play a team that can give them the same type of edge they showed they had after beating the Pistons in 2025. But no matter who the Knicks end up playing, they'll have a chance to show they can look like a title contender should, against a solid opponent, for an entire series.
Making a statement against a formidable opponent early on should help the Knicks build confidence and spark some postseason energy. We've seen impressive first-round series victories elevate the team to new heights before.