Knicks Secure Playoff Berth After 76ers’ Loss in Miami
knicks-secure-playoff-berth-2026
The New York Knicks locked up an Eastern Conference playoff spot on Monday after the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Miami Heat, according to the NBA.
New York becomes the conference’s third team guaranteed a top-six finish, joining the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. Detroit, the No. 1 seed, clinched its position with a March 20 victory over Golden State, while No. 2 seed Boston earned its berth with Sunday’s win in Charlotte.
At 48-27, the Knicks hold the East’s third seed and cannot drop lower than sixth. Monday’s Celtics loss to Atlanta left New York two games behind Boston and 1.5 games ahead of fourth-place Cleveland, putting the Knicks on track for home-court advantage in the first round.
The front office kept nearly the entire roster that reached the 2025 Eastern Conference finals—the franchise’s first appearance in that round in 25 years—but made a coaching change, replacing Tom Thibodeau with Mike Brown last offseason.
Owner James Dolan stated in early January that the minimum objective this season is an NBA Finals appearance. With a postseason berth in hand, the Knicks have cleared the first hurdle toward that goal.
Source: Hoops Rumors
