In the NBA, all eyes are on the Knicks and Sixers: the reasons

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Can the Knicks and 76ers reach the conference finals? It all depends on the injuries. Even in losses, Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks have put on a show these past few days.

The question of the moment is whether the depleted team can really be a factor in the title fight in the playoffs — it has definitely been a long time since they were a factor.

New York has not played in the conference finals since 2000, one of the longest droughts in the NBA. Although the Knicks won the first-round series last year, they still need to take another step before Madison Square Garden can once again host the type of series they were accustomed to 25 years ago.

Sunday was a preview of what it could be like when the Knicks fought the Oklahoma City Thunder until the end. Brunson’s layup gave the Knicks the lead with 4.1 seconds left, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an answer as Oklahoma City won 113-112.

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Two days earlier, Brunson, who became a fan favorite since signing with the Knicks before last season, scored 61 points in a 130-126 overtime loss to San Antonio. Although New York is known for its defense under coach Tom Thibodeau, this does not mean that they are not offensive as with their 145 points in Wednesday’s victory against Toronto.

Even when they lose, the Knicks look like contenders, but it’s their health that’s most concerning. Julius Randle (dislocated shoulder) has not played since January. G Anunoby (right elbow) has not had action in two weeks. Mitchell Robinson returned after a three-and-a-half-month absence, but did not play against Oklahoma City with a sprained ankle.

If the season ended now, New York would have home-court advantage in the first round against Orlando, which hasn’t won a playoff series since 2010. But the second round would almost certainly be against the Celtics, who have an 11 1/2-game lead in the playoffs. top of the East.

Only Washington and Charlotte have a longer drought without playing in the conference finals.

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Another team in the East is close to the same streak as New York. The Philadelphia 76ers have not played in the conference finals since Allen Iverson led the team to the Finals in 2001.

Their elimination last year in the second round was their best result since 2000. Lately they have had everything going against them with injuries.

Joel Embiid is the reigning NBA MVP with Philadelphia, and the 76ers have been among the top three seeds in the East four times in the last six years, but have failed to advance past the second round.

Embiid is trying to recover from knee surgery, and Philadelphia would now have to avoid the playoff to make the playoffs.

“We understand that with the injuries to Julius, OG and Mitchell we are not going to replace those guys individually, but we can do it as a team,” Thibodeau said. “It’s what we’ve done all season.”