New York rocking after Knicks first playoff game in eight years

New York was in party mode after the city’s most famous basketball team returned to the big dance, even if they were silenced.

Incredible scenes in New York.

New York may have two NBA teams but it seems that only one can capture the cities imagination.

The Brooklyn Nets may have the Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, but the New York Knicks shocked the NBA by finishing fourth in the Atlantic division and kicking off the Playoffs with a home stand against the Atlanta Hawks.

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But while Madison Square Garden was rocking with 15,000 Knicks fans, the Hawks’ Trae Young played the ultimate villain, silencing the crowd with a scoop drive with 0.9 seconds remaining to close out a 107-105 win.

The crowd was wild throughout with social media erupting over the wild celebrations as the Knicks ended eight years in the NBA wilderness where the foundation team has been a laughing stock.

The Knicks fans were out in force.

And Young felt the brunt of it with the crowd chanting “F*** Trae Young” throughout the match.

In fact it started very early with fans going after the 22-year-old.

And he loved every bit of it, stabbing the dagger through the Knicks’ hearts.

After hitting the game winner, Young put his finger to his lips and motioned that he couldn’t hear the crowd any more, dropping a few expletives back at the silenced crowd.

Young was revelling in his villain status,

“You’ve been on those biggest stages and getting in the zone with everyone chanting eff you — I don’t know if you’ve had that, I’ve had it a couple of times, I had it in college and again tonight,” he said on TNT immediately after the game. “It got real quiet at the end and I wanted to hear those eff you chants again.”

He went again in the post-match pressers.

“I’ve always looked at it like I’m doing something right, if I’m affecting them with my play that much,” Young said post-game. “If they hate me that much I’m obviously doing something right and just gotta let my play do the talking.

“At the end of the day fans can only talk, they can’t guard me, they’re not out there playing so for me it’s just a part of the game.

“I’m glad fans are back, I’m glad MSG was rocking tonight, I’m glad everybody got to come in and experience the game back, so it’s good.”

Trae Young was happy to play the villain.

But while the on court action was impressive, social media went nuts for the fans in the stands at MSG, with the vocal crowd erupting throughout.

The one and only time this Celtics fan will enjoy this sound coming out of MSG and wow does it sound glorious. https://t.co/A9fZSR8Zge

— Tim Fullerton (@TimFullerton) May 24, 2021

So great to hear those sounds from the MSG again. https://t.co/UiJAgqSCxV

— Legacy Fan Prescott Rossi (@PrescottRossi) May 24, 2021

MSG hyped up as hell. Knicks losing a game in a way that baffles and infuriates their fans. Spike Lee wearing a goofy outfit and becoming a meme. Nature has finally healed.

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) May 24, 2021

Trae Young vs MSG crowd game 2 will be legendary

— Josh Lloyd (@redrock_bball) May 24, 2021

Legitimately feel bad for Knicks fans, especially those at MSG. First playoff game in ages, and to lost like *that* is a gut punch.

— Alex Kramers (@alexkramers) May 24, 2021

Frustrating Knicks loss tonight, but what a night to remember. 15,000 Knicks fans going wild. A sense of normalcy after a year to forget. Goosebumps being there with a packed house watching playoff hoops. Let’s even the series Wednesday.

See you back at MSG for Game 2 🏀 pic.twitter.com/zq6jOeh1ob

— Jake Brown (@JakeBrownRadio) May 24, 2021

NBA playoffs around the grounds

Philadelphia 76ers 125-118 Washington Wizards

Ben Simmons came up big.

Tobias Harris erupted for 37 points as the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers shut down the Washington Wizards to win their Eastern Conference first round series opener 125-118.

Harris delivered a 28-point first half display to get the Sixers off to a flying start and Joel Embiid added 30 points from just 30 minutes on court to steer the Sixers to a home victory in the best-of-seven series.

Seth Curry had 15 points and Danny Green added 11 for Philadelphia.

Ben Simmons was limited to just six points but hauled down 15 rebounds and handed out 15 assists.

“I thought he was special tonight,” Doc Rivers said of Simmons post-game. “Whoever he guarded struggled scoring.

“You know, he created so many points for us off the glass, the three, off transition to three, creating switches that they didn’t want to have.

“He’s a treasure. He’s something that you don’t see a lot in this league.

“He has a skill set that is so different. There’s a lot of people that can’t make what of him. All I see is greatness in him. And I just want him to keep doing what he’s doing.”

Phoenix Suns 99-90 LA Lakers

Phoenix claim the first Lakers scalp.

Devin Booker made the most of his playoff debut, scoring 34 points as the Phoenix Suns beat the reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in their Western Conference series opener on Sunday.

Booker spearheaded the 99-90 win for the second-seeded Suns over the Lakers, rallying his team after an injury restricted Phoenix veteran Chris Paul’s influence.

Booker was backed by Deandre Ayton, who contributed 21 points and 16 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson added 10 points apiece for Phoenix.

A physical encounter saw the Suns’ Cameron Payne ejected in the fourth quarter after a shoving match which saw players and backroom staff stream onto the court as tempers flared.

The Lakers, meanwhile, struggled to hit their stride throughout, with LeBron James finishing with 18 points and Anthony Davis with 13 points after making only five-of-16 from the field.

“It was a big win for us,” Booker said, revealing that the early injury to Paul had galvanised the Suns.

“Chris went down early and I think that got our team locked in and understanding that every possession matters. We huddled up and said we’ve all got to give a little bit more.”

Utah Jazz 109-112 Memphis Grizzlies

What a result for the play in winners.

Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant combined for 57 points as the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies stunned the top-seeded Utah Jazz 112-109 in their series opener in Salt Lake City.

Canada’s Brooks had a team high 31 points and American Morant poured in 26 for the Grizzlies, who upset the NBA’s top team just two days after making the playoffs.

“They had a couple of guys that couldn’t guard me,” said Brooks.

Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 12 rebounds while Kyle Anderson added 14 points for the Grizzlies, who are in the postseason for the first time in four years.

Guard Mike Conley finished with 22 points and 11 assists, and forward Bojan Bogdanovic scored 29 points for the Jazz, who were missing all-star Donovan Mitchell for the 17th straight game.

— with AFP