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The Knicks are one of the NBA's most storied franchises and, as such, have been a part of some of the league's biggest moments.
Given how long the franchise has existed, those moments have been on both the good and bad side.
While New York's history is highlighted by two championships in the 1970s, it features its fair share of heartbreak, much of which comes in the form of collapses, meltdowns and chokes. The franchise's postseason history is littered with such moments, and they are often brought back to the surface when the Knicks suffer a similar fate.
Here is a look back at some of the worst meltdowns experienced during New York's franchise history.
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7. 2000 Eastern Conference finals, Game 6 vs. Pacers
Get used to seeing Reggie Miller on this list.
After battling throughout the 1990s, the Pacers and Knicks met for the first East finals of the new millennium. With memories of the past decade fresh on their minds, Miller and the Pacers entered Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead but approached it as if it were a Game 7.
With things tied up going into the final frame, Miller scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth, and the Pacers outscored the Knicks, 31-18. Indiana punched its ticket to the 2000 NBA Finals on the Madison Square Garden floor, and the game was ultimately Patrick Ewing's last in a Knicks uniform.
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6. 1997 Eastern Conference semifinals vs. Heat
Not all blown 3-1 series leads are the same, but New York still lands on the list for doing so against its archrival in the 1997 Eastern Conference semifinals.
In the Knicks' Game 5 loss, there was an altercation between the teams that ultimately saw suspensions handed to Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson and John Starks for leaving the bench area. The suspensions were spread out over two games, and the damage was done.
Miami defeated the shorthanded Knicks in Games 6 and 7 to successfully complete the 3-1 series comeback, thwarting New York's run to return to the Eastern Conference finals.
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5. 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals, Game 1 vs. Pacers
Miller got the best of the Knicks in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals. It happened so quick, it was almost unbelievable.
One year after coming up short to their rivals, the Pacers trailed by six with under 20 seconds remaining in Game 1. In less than five seconds of game time, Miller hit a 3, stole an inbound pass and drained another to tie things up.
After two missed free throws from Starks and a missed putback from Ewing, Miller was fouled on a defensive rebound and canned both free throws to go on a personal 8-0 run in under nine seconds, allowing Indiana to steal the win. Indiana won both Game 1 and the series.
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4. 1994 NBA Finals vs. Rockets
New York moved within one win of an NBA title in 1994, taking a 3-2 series lead over MVP Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets.
With the series returning to Games 6 and 7, the Knicks could not get the one road win they needed in order to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In Game 6, Patrick Ewing was limited to 6-of-20 shooting, and the Knicks shot 30-of-80 (37.5 percent) for the game.
If you utter the phrase "2-of-18" to a Knicks fan, they'll automatically think of John Starks' cold night in Game 7, where he missed 16 shots, including all 11of his 3-point attempts in a six-point loss.
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3. 1994 Eastern Conference finals, Game 5 vs. Pacers
This is arguably where the choking discussion originates. In a pivotal Game 5, the Knicks held a 12-point lead and had a chance to take command of the series by finishing the job.
What happened next was a complete takeover from Miller, who scored 25 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored New York 35-16 in the final frame to earn a seven-point win and take a 3-2 series lead.
And, of course, Miller's epic choke gesture cam in this game.
This collapse would come higher on the list but, aside from cultural significance, proved largely inconsequential as the Knicks won Games 6 and 7 to advance to the NBA Finals.
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2. 1993 Eastern Conference finals, Game 5 vs. Bulls
With the series tied 2-2 and home-court advantage in their favor, the Knicks had an opportunity to take a pivotal Game 5 and move one step closer to ending Chicago's three-peat bid.
The Bulls were undoubtedly a dynasty but this game will be remembered for what could have been for the Knicks, as big man Charles Smith was stifled during a late-game possession that may have swayed the outcome.
It's a game of "what if?" from there, but Smith finding a way to connect on that possession could have swayed the series in New York's favor. Instead, Chicago won the game and eliminated the Knicks in six.
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1. 2025 Eastern Conference finals, Game 1 vs. Pacers
The Knicks dropped Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in unprecedented fashion, as they held a nine-point lead with under a minute remaining in regulation. What happened next was a meltdown of catastrophic proportions, as the Pacers forced overtime with a 13-4 run in 52 seconds.
But it was worse than that.
New York led by 17 points with 6:13 remaining in regulation and held a 14-point lead with 2:40 remaining. Before New York's Game 1 disaster, teams leading by 14-plus points in the final 2:45 in the fourth quarter of the play-by-play era (since 1997) were 994-0. After the collapse, those teams are now 994-1.
The magnitude of Game 1 will ultimately be decided by the series outcome, but the Knicks blew a historically insurmountable lead in the biggest game held in their building in nearly 25 years. That alone is enough for No. 1.
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