The New York Knicks are currently in a heated first-round playoff battle with the Atlanta Hawks. In a somewhat surprising announcement, the Knicks said that they will only sell tickets to vaccinated fans if the team reaches the second round of the postseason. The team also announced that Game 5 of the current series has already sold out. More than 16,000 fans were in attendance for New York’s first playoff win in almost a decade. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 101-92 to tie the series at 1-1.
More than 90 % of the fans who attended the first two games of the series were fully vaccinated. The fans who were seated in the vaccinated sections were not required to wear masks nor were they required to socially distance. The fully vaccinated sections in Game 1 and Game 2 were completely packed, and the fans made a ton of noise.
“It’s moments like this that show us what’s possible if everyone gets vaccinated — we’ll all be able to get back to doing what we love — and that definitely includes being together to cheer on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden,” MSG Sports executive vice president David Hopkinson said in a statement.
The last time that the Knicks made it to the second round of the NBA playoffs was back in 2013 during the Carmelo Anthony era. The Knicks defeated the Celtics in the first round before being bounced by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
If the Knicks get past the Hawks in this incredibly competitive first-round series, it is looking more and more likely that the 76ers will be waiting for them in the second round. Philadelphia is the top seed in the conference and the team has a lot more playoff experience than New York’s young group. Still, it would be an exciting matchup. But first, the Knicks have to take care of business against Atlanta.
