Bulls–Knicks rivalry

The Bulls–Knicks rivalry is a rivalry between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The two basketball teams have played each other every year since the Bulls first joined the NBA in 1966.

Bulls–Knicks rivalry
Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
First meetingOctober 23, 1966
Knicks 124, Bulls 105
Latest meetingFebruary 29, 2020
Knicks 125, Bulls 115
Next meetingFebruary 1, 2021
Statistics
Meetings total256 meetings
All-time series143120 (CHI)
Regular season series119108 (CHI)
Postseason results2412 (CHI)
Longest win streak
Current win streakNYK: W1
Post-season history

The rivalry peaked in intensity from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s, when both teams became huge playoff contenders. This was due to a variety of factors: the great frequency in which the teams competed against each other in high-stakes contests and playoff series; well-known players such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Patrick Ewing, and John Starks; the reputations of the team's respective cities; and personnel changes and conflicts between the teams. The two teams met in the playoffs during six of the eight years from 1989 to 1996, with the Bulls winning five of those series.

History

Early years

Between 1966 and 1980, the Bulls and Knicks were inter-conference rivals, as the Bulls played in the Western Division/Conference during this period. Both teams were regularly present in the NBA playoffs during the late 1960s to mid-1970s, but neither met in the NBA Finals.

The Bulls of that era, led by Jerry Sloan, Bob Love, Norm Van Lier and Tom Boerwinkle, struggled to advance deep in the playoffs as they regularly lost to powerhouse teams like the Jerry West-led Los Angeles Lakers and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Milwaukee Bucks. The Knicks, on the other hand, made three finals and won two championships featuring players such as Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Lucas, Earl Monroe and future Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

1981-1988: First Playoff Meeting and Aftermath

In the 1980 offseason, the Bulls moved to the Eastern Conference, making their rivalry with the Knicks an intra-conference affair.

The two teams' first playoff meeting was in first round of the 1981 NBA Playoffs, a best-of-three series. Chicago, under head coach Jerry Sloan, won both games to sweep the series against New York 2-0. Chicago would be swept in the next round by the Boston Celtics, the eventual champions, in a best-of-seven series. Sloan was fired during the following season.

In the 1984 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls used their first-round pick (3rd overall) to select shooting guard Michael Jordan, who would eventually lead Chicago to six NBA Championships in the 1990s with teammates Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, under the direction of head coach Phil Jackson. The next year, the New York Knicks used their first-round pick (1st overall) in the 1985 NBA Draft to select center Patrick Ewing, who would go on to become one of the Knicks' most notable players over the next 15 years.

1988-1993: Chicago Bulls first dynasty

The Knicks and Bulls met in the playoffs for the second time in 1989. This time, the rivalry was much more pronounced, as the Knicks had just won their first Atlantic Division title since 1971 with a 52-30 record and clinched the 2nd seed in the East. Meanwhile, 6th-seeded Chicago won just 47 games, but was led by reigning NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Michael Jordan. The Bulls won Game 1 in New York, and all three in Chicago to upset the Knicks 4-2 and qualify for the Eastern Conference Finals, which they lost in six games to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons.

When the two teams met again in 1991, their roles were reversed. Chicago led the East with a then franchise-best 61 wins to capture the Central Division title. On the opposite end, the Knicks limped into the playoffs at 39-43 with the 8th seed. Chicago cruised past New York in a 3-game sweep, winning each game by an average of 20 points. They would go on to claim the first NBA Championship in franchise history.

In 1992, the Bulls, led by Jordan and Pippen, were on their way to their second straight title when they met the Knicks led by Ewing and new head coach Pat Riley in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series went to a decisive Game 7, which the Bulls won 110-81 to advance. This kick-started the intense rivalry and made the Knicks into an Eastern Conference powerhouse, replacing the Pistons and Celtics. This was the first of two Game 7's that the Bulls faced in the six seasons they won a championship, the other with the Pacers in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. This particular series became intense, with several players, particularly Michael Jordan, Xavier McDaniel, Scottie Pippen, and Greg Anthony getting into arguments.

Shortly afterwards, there was a moment of peace in the rivalry, with Ewing, Jordan, and Pippen winning gold medals as members of the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Ewing, Jordan, and Chris Mullin are the only basketball players to win gold medals as amateurs and professionals, having won at the 1984 Summer Olympics.[1][2] Jordan and Pippen, along with LeBron James in 2012, are the only players to have won an NBA championship and Olympic gold medal in the same year, though Pippen is the only player to accomplish this feat twice, as he played for the Bulls in 1996 and Team USA at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[3]

In the 1992–93 season, the Knicks finished ahead of Chicago in the regular season and had home court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. The series had the notable highlight of Starks dunking over Horace Grant in front of Michael Jordan late in Game 2. However, despite being down 2–0, the Bulls came back and won the next 4 (by doing so, they became the 1st team in NBA history to overcome a 2-0 series deficit in a best-of-7 series, the 2nd team that year, and 4th overall), including a 97-94 Game 5 victory in New York. The game was notable as Knicks forward Charles Smith was stopped 4 straight times by a series of blocks and strips in the final seconds while trying to score. The Bulls won Game 6 96-88 to advance to the 1993 NBA Finals, where they beat the Suns in 6 games for their first three-peat.

1993-1998: Chicago Bulls second dynasty

With Jordan's absence in 1993–94 the Knicks had the upper hand and compiled the second best record in the East. The Bulls, led by Pippen and newcomer Toni Kukoč, met the Knicks in the second round, where the series went 7 games. Game 3 of the series was marred by a brawl between Jo Jo English and Derek Harper in which both players rolled into the stands. What made things worse was that the brawl took place with NBA Commissioner David Stern in attendance. The Bulls had a 19-point lead entering the 4th, but the Knicks tied it with 1.8 seconds left on a Patrick Ewing hook shot. Scottie Pippen famously refused to take the floor after Phil Jackson drew the final play for Kukoc, who hit a buzzer-beater to win the game. In one of the most argued calls in NBA history, a questionable foul was called by Hue Hollins in the closing seconds of Game 5 against Pippen, which gave Hubert Davis two free throws to turn a one-point deficit into a one-point victory for the Knicks.

After a blowout Bulls win in Game 6, the Knicks advanced past the Bulls with a series-clinching 87-77 win, but eventually lost to the Rockets in the 1994 NBA Finals. This was the only time the Knicks were able to beat the Bulls in the playoffs during this era. Also, all the games in the series were won by the home team, and the Knicks had home court advantage in the series.

In 1994–95, Jordan returned in the latter half of the regular season. In his return to the Garden, his 5th game back, Jordan scored 55 in a Chicago win. This game lifted Jordan's confidence after a mediocre performance in his "comeback game" against the Pacers. They didn't meet in the playoffs that season, but the animosity between the teams still grew.

During the Bulls' record-setting 1995–96 season, they suffered their worst loss of the season to the Knicks, 102-74 in March.[4][5] Two months later, they defeated the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 5 games.

During the Bulls' second three-peat, they only met in the playoffs once; in 1996 when the Bulls defeated the Knicks. It was also during this period that other teams in the East grew to be contenders, such as the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat. All of these teams had their own heated battles with either the Bulls or Knicks in the playoffs.

In the 1990s, both Knicks Finals appearances (1994 and their Cinderella march of 1999) followed a Bulls' 3-peat, but the Knicks lost both times to a team from Texas (Rockets & Spurs).

Later years

The departures of Jordan, Pippen and Ewing led to the decline of both the Bulls and Knicks, and neither team was able to recapture the same success they enjoyed in the 1990s.

During this era, the only times both teams were in the playoffs took place in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons, neither of which resulted in the Bulls and Knicks meeting in a playoff series.

Nevertheless, three notable moments during the new millennium kept the rivalry alive. On January 18, 2005, Ben Gordon scored a game-winning layup to lead the Bulls past the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Then on April 8, 2012, Carmelo Anthony's three-point shot in overtime gave the Knicks the win at home over Chicago. Finally, on October 31, 2013, Derrick Rose banked in a game-winning field goal to beat the Knicks at the United Center.

Causes

The significance of the rivalry was due partly to the bragging rights of the two biggest cities in the East: the Big Apple vs. the Windy City. The physical play of the teams made it intense, especially in the playoffs. The matchup between Jordan and Starks brought some drama as they were both intense players who showcased a number of highlight dunks on the opposing team. Despite the Knicks not winning an NBA title or beating the Bulls in a postseason series while Jordan was in the league, this rivalry was considered the most contentious of the 1990s.

Head to head

The results in brackets concern the playoff games.

Season at Chicago Bulls
Bulls-Knicks
at New York Knicks
Knicks-Bulls
Neutral site
Knicks-Bulls
Total Notes
1966–67 105-124, 98-103, 110-107, 131-116, 116-104, 133-132, 106-103, 122-121, 103-117 Knicks 6–3 Bulls' only season at International Amphitheatre
Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
1967–68 102-100, 118-126 125-123 (2OT), 109-101 96-106, 121-99, 112-103 Knicks 5–2 Bulls' first season at Chicago Stadium
Knicks' final season at Madison Square Garden III
Knicks' first season at Madison Square Garden IV
1968–69 83-94, 102-101, 98-105 96-100, 119-97 114-107 Knicks 4–2 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
1969–70 87-116, 99-108, 117-120 114-99, 116-96, 123-104 N.A. Knicks 6–0 Knicks achieve franchise-record 60 wins
Knicks were the eventual NBA champions
1970–71 98-106, 109-103 96-99, 98-87, 102-109 Bulls 3–2
1971–72 122-96, 116-91, 99-102 (OT) 100-99, 108-113, Bulls 3–2 Knicks were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
1972–73 90-86, 84-83 97-83, 98-100 Bulls 3–1 Knicks were the eventual NBA champions
1973–74 115-97, 80-108 69-85, 89-80 Tie 2–2
1974–75 91-104, 101-84 90-95, 94-97 Bulls 3–1
1975–76 93-94, 95-110 96-89, 93-85 Knicks 4–0 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1976–77 108-88, 105-87 108-91, 123-103 Tie 2–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
1977–78 97-99, 129-117 112-103, 108-96 Knicks 3–1 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
1978–79 94-118, 107-104 96-101, 143-148 (2OT) Bulls 3–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1979–80 102-120 124-117 Knicks 2–0 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1980–81 130-121, 117-114, 94-112' 105-97, 97-101, 127-117 Tie 3–3
115-114 (OT) 80-90 Bulls 2–0 Eastern Conference First Round
1981–82 108-111, 131-107 121-106, 139-140 (OT), 116-120 Bulls 3–2 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1982–83 91-85, 91-93, 103-120 119-109, 94-79 Knicks 4–1 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
1983–84 102-96, 111-113, 96-113 107-113, 109-92, 115-113 Knicks 4–2 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
1984–85 95-93, 113-97, 109-104 106-121, 119-113, 106-97 Bulls 4–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
1985–86 96-113, 114-101, 111-98 94-97, 118-111, 96-106 Bulls 4–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
1986–87 101-99, 109-110, 115-96 103-108, 86-85, 108-112, Bulls 4–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
1987–88 97-95 (OT), 131-122 90-89, 110-98, 118-121 Bulls 3–2
1988–89 108-106, 129-124, 104-100 126-117, 122-104 Bulls 3–2
111-88, 106-93, 113-111 109-120 (OT), 114-97, 121-114 Bulls 4–2 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1989–90 117-109, 107-106 (OT) 109-106, 108-111 Bulls 3–1
1990–91 108-98, 108-106 92-102, 91-101 Bulls 4–0 Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
126-85, 89-79 94-103 Bulls 3–0 Eastern Conference First Round
1991–92 99-89, 99-98 85-106, 90-96 Bulls 4–0 Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
89-94, 86-78, 96-88, 110-81 86-94, 93-86, 100-86 Bulls 4–3 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1992–93 89-77, 98-104 112-75, 89-84 Knicks 3–1 Knicks achieve franchise-record 60 wins
Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
103-83, 105-95, 96-88 98-90, 96-91, 94-97 Bulls 4–2 Eastern Conference Finals
1993–94 98-86, 76-92 86-68, 87-78 Knicks 3–1 Bulls' final season at Chicago Stadium
Knicks were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
104-102, 95-83, 93-79 90-86, 96-91, 87-86, 87-77 Knicks 4–3 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1994–95 107-104 (OT), 111-90 93-89, 111-113 Bulls 3–1 Bulls' first season at United Center
1995–96 101-94, 107-86 79-99, 104-72 Bulls 3–1 Bulls achieve franchise-record 72 wins
Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
91-84, 91-80, 94-81 102-99 (OT), 91-94 Bulls 4–1 Eastern Conference Semifinals
1996–97 88-87, 101-103 97-93, 103-105 Tie 2–2 Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
1997–98 100-82, 111-109 89-90, 89-102 Bulls 4–0 Bulls were the eventual NBA champions
1998–99 68-73, 76-63 79-63 Knicks 2–1 Season shortened to 50 games due to lockout
Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
Knicks were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
1999–2000 74-84, 95-88, 78-67 Knicks 3–0 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
2000–01 86-91, 81-72 95-68, 101-80 Knicks 3–1 Bulls lose franchise-record 67 games
Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
2001–02 84-79, 113-109 78-71, 101-104 (OT) Bulls 3–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2002–03 101-94, 100-98 98-86 Bulls 2–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2003–04 96-101, 87-81 99-104, 96-82 Tie 2–2 Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs
2004–05 86-84, 92-91 86-88, 94-102 Bulls 4–0 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2005–06 106-104 (OT) 109-101, 101-108 Bulls 2–1 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2006–07 102-85, 98-69 95-106, 103-92 Bulls 3–1 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2007–08 101-96, 100-105 85-78, 83-100 Tie 2–2 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2008–09 105-100, 110-103 102-98 Bulls 2–1 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2009–10 98-89, 118-85 88-81, 109-115 Bulls 3–1 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2010–11 112-120 103-95, 90-103 Knicks 2–1
2011–12 104-99, 98-86 102-105, 100-99 (OT) Bulls 3–1 Season shortened to 66 games due to lockout
2012–13 93-85, 118-111 (OT) 106-110, 101-108 Bulls 4–0
2013–14 82-81, 109-90 83-78, 100-89 Tie 2–2 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2014–15 103-97 80-104, 80-111 Bulls 3–0 Knicks lose franchise-record 65 games
Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2015–16 91–107, 94–106 81–108, 115–107 Knicks 3–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2016–17 89–104 117–104, 100–91 Knicks 3–0 Knicks did not qualify for the playoffs
2017–18 122–119 (2OT), 92–110 102–104, 87–92 Bulls 3–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2018–19 116–115 (2OT), 107–113 96–86 Knicks 2–1 Knicks lose franchise-record 65 games
Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2019–20 120–102, March 28 105–98, February 29 Tie 1–1 Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs

Statistics

Chicago Bulls New York Knicks
Total wins 140 110
At Chicago Bulls 89 35
At New York Knicks 49 70
Neutral Court 2 5
Regular season wins 116 98
At Chicago Bulls 71 34
At New York Knicks 43 59
Neutral Court 2 5
Playoff wins 24 12
At Chicago Bulls 18 1
At New York Knicks 6 11

See also

References

  1. "Games of the XXV Olympiad – 1992". USA Basketball Inc. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  2. "Games of the XXIII Olympiad – 1984". USA Basketball, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  3. Smith, Sam (August 4, 1996). "Dream Team's Sleepwalk Ends with Gold Medal". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
  4. Wise, Mike (March 11, 1996). "So Much for Karma. Knicks Stomp Bulls". New York Times. p. C1.
  5. Armour, Terry (March 11, 1996). "New York Nightmare: Knicks Return to Old Ways in Rout of Bulls". Chicago Tribune. p. 1.
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