The Knicks compiled a 48–34 record in the regular season to finish second in the Atlantic Division and earn a berth in the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
[4] In the first round of the playoffs, New York faced the Baltimore Bullets,[5] who had defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year.
[6] The Knicks won the series in six games and advanced to the conference finals, where they faced the Boston Celtics.
With a 4–1 series victory,[5] New York made the NBA Finals for the second time in three seasons.
[8] Willis Reed only played 11 games in the regular season and missed the entirety of the playoffs with a knee injury.