The 2025/26 National Basketball Association (NBA) postseason is nearing its final series in extremely spectacular fashion, and the New York Knicks are partying like it’s 1999 (the last time they made it to the NBA Finals), following their dominant sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, in the Eastern Conference Semi-final series, to become “Kings of the East”.

The 130-93 drubbing of the Cavaliers in Game 4 on Monday was not necessarily unexpected as the Cleveland squad was only in the series for the first 3.25 quarters, up to the point when they had a historic 22-point collapse in the fourth quarter of Game 1. It seemed only yesterday that the Cavaliers overcame the Philadelphia 76ers in seven games, then destroyed the East’s top seed, the Detroit Pistons, in a 125-94 Game 7 blow-out win, but they truly failed to show up in the Conference Final.

With the early wrap up of the series, the Knicks have now extended their franchise-record play-off win streak to 11 games, joining only four other teams in NBA history with that record, in a single postseason: The 1999 San Antonio Spurs (12 straight), 2001 Los Angeles Lakers (11), and 2017 Golden State Warriors (15), who all carried on to raise the championship trophy, leaving only the 1989 Lakers (11 in a row), who failed to win the title.

It is yet to be seen how the Knicks will fare in these finals, as they get a bit more rest than their opponents, for the series that is slated to begin on Wednesday, June 3, but one thing is certain, this has been one of the most remarkable play-off runs of any NBA team. Up to this point, the Knicks are shooting 51.5 per cent from the field and 40.0 per cent from three-point range this postseason. Obviously, these statistics are fueled by their play-off match-ups in the East, but they are obviously peaking at the right time and have put the Western Conference on notice.

For these play-offs, the Knicks are 12-2, with those wins coming by an NBA-best +273 total points, and the other five teams below them in this category, have progressed to win the championship: 2017 Golden State Warriors (+196), 1971 Milwaukee Bucks (+183), 1987 Los Angeles Lakers (+180), 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder (+168), and 1996 Chicago Bulls (+167). The two losses (against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round) were by one point each and they have just one single-digit win (Game 2 against the 76ers by six). Their 19.35 play-off point differential this season is by far the biggest ever since the merger (1976/77), bettering the 2017 Golden State Warriors (13.53).

The Knicks have had an insane play-off run, and their dominance is best reflected in the achievements after only 14 games played this postseason:

• First team in NBA history with four-straight 10-point wins in Conference Finals.

• +19.35 points per game differential is the highest entering finals in NBA history.

• First team since 1950 to sweep the semi-final round by all double-digit wins, and all three teams to have done this went on to win the finals: Philadelphia Warriors (1947) and Minneapolis Lakers (1950).

• Three wins by 35+ points this postseason — The most by any team in a single postseason.

• The first team to sweep the semi and conference finals since the 2003 New Jersey Nets.

• The 130 points in the Conference Finals Game 4, without a 20+ points scorer, is tied for the second most points in play-off history.

• First postseason in Knicks history with multiple series sweeps.

• Extended the franchise record to 11-straight play-off wins.

The Knicks have not lost since April 23, averaging 126.1 points during that stretch, with an average margin of victory of 29.7 points. They have won all three series-clinching games by at least 30 points and lead these play-offs with a 123.3 points offensive rating, a 103.5 points defensive rating, and a staggering 19.8 net rating. These stats will certainly change after the NBA finals, but the Knicks have done more than enough to prove that they absolutely stand a fighting chance of winning the Finals.

There has been a different holder of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy each of the last seven years and, entering these play-offs, the Eastern Conference was not given a chance against the West. Considering the top-shelf display by the Knicks, plus the “today-for-you-tomorrow-for me” series in the West, it would not come as a surprise if the trend continues this year and make it eight-straight.

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