Knicks, Heat have chance to advance in NBA Playoffs doubleheader on TSN
Published
The New York Knicks and Miami Heat have opportunities to finish off their first-round upsets tonight with a doubleheader of NBA Playoffs action on TSN.
Catch the Knicks battle the Cleveland Cavaliers followed by the Heat travelling to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks tonight beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT on TSN 1/5 and streaming on TSN.ca and the TSN App.
(5) New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers (4)
Game 5 (New York lead series 3-1)
Odds: Moneyline (NY +184; CLE -220)
For the first time since 2012-13, the Knicks can advance to the second-round of the NBA Playoffs with a Game 5 win in Cleveland against the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
The Knicks took both games at Madison Square Garden over the weekend thanks to great performances from Canadian RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson.
Cleveland won four more games than New York during the regular season, but have been outplayed so far in this first-round series.
We're playing for our season,” Cavs star Donovan Mitchell told reporters on Tuesday. “Otherwise we’ll be having the end-of-the-year press conference right here.”
Only 13 of 271 teams have rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. Cleveland is the only team to do it in the NBA Finals, thanks to a historic performance from LeBron James in 2016 against the Golden State Warriors.
(8) Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks (1)
Game 5 (Miami lead series 3-1)
Odds: Moneyline (MIA +450; MIL -600)
The Miami Heat can become just the sixth No. 8 seed in NBA history to knock out the No. 1 seed.
The 1993-94 Denver Nuggets were the first team to accomplish the feat again the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics followed by the Knicks upsetting the Atlanta Hawks in 1999, the first step on their improbable run to the NBA Finals where they fell to the San Antonio Spurs.
The 2006-07 Golden State Warriors shocked the No. 1 Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies did the same to the Spurs in 2011.
The 2011-12 Philadelphia 76ers were the last No. 8 team to eliminate a No. 1 seed, beating the Chicago Bulls.
Can the Heat join that exclusive group?
If they are going to finish it off on Wednesday, Jimmy Butler will likely play a major role.
The 33-year-old has been the best player in the series, averaging 36.5 points over four games, putting up an incredible 56 points in a Game 4 victory in South Beach on Monday.
The Heat outscored the Bucks 41-25 in the fourth quarter for the 119-114 comeback victory and a 3-1 series lead.
“We knew what we were capable of, even if nobody outside of this building, outside of this roster and outside of this organization believed in us,” Butler said. “That’s fine. We just want to continue to do what we know is possible.”
The loss of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a major factor in this series. He played just 11 minutes in a Game 1 loss before leaving with a lower-back contusion.
Milwaukee would split the next two games without their two-time MVP in the lineup. Antetokounmpo had a triple-double in his Game 4 return, recording 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.
The champion contending Bucks will need more of that going forward if they want to stay alive on Wednesday.