Knicks secure No. 2 seed in East playoffs after thrilling OT victory over Bulls

The New York Knicks faced the Chicago Bulls in a close game that required overtime to determine the winner. Despite committing 21 turnovers and struggling with clock management late in the game, the Knicks managed to secure a 120-119 victory over the Bulls. This win allowed the Knicks to move up to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, thanks in part to the shorthanded Milwaukee Bucks losing to the Orlando Magic 113-88.

Looking ahead to the playoff matchups, the Eastern Conference first-round pairings include the Boston Celtics facing the eighth-seeded play-in team, the New York Knicks taking on the seventh-seeded play-in team, the Milwaukee Bucks playing the Indiana Pacers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers squaring off against the Orlando Magic. The dates and times for these playoff series have not been finalized yet.

In the Eastern Conference play-in games, the matchups will be as follows: the Miami Heat will play the Philadelphia 76ers in the 7/8 game, while the Atlanta Hawks will face the Chicago Bulls in the 9/10 game.

Some initial thoughts on the matchups include the Knicks facing a tough opponent either the Heat or the 76ers, the Celtics likely going up against the other team of the Heat or 76ers, the Magic having a good chance to advance past the Cavaliers, and the Bucks facing off against the Pacers. It will be important to keep an eye on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s health as Milwaukee navigates through the playoffs. Ultimately, the Celtics are favored in the Eastern Conference, and anything less than a trip to the Finals would be considered a major disappointment for them after their strong regular season performance.