Knicks' top 10 individual performances in NBA Finals games

The Knicks have played in the NBA Finals eight times and have won two titles.

Here are the top 10 best performances by Knicks players in an NBA Finals game.

10. Latrell Sprewell: Game 5 of 1999 NBA Finals

Sprewell scored a game-high 35 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds for the Knicks, but they lost, 78-77, clinching the NBA title for the San Antonio Spurs. Sprewell’s 35 points are the fourth most by a Knicks player in the NBA Finals.

9. Jerry Lucas: Game 4 of 1972 NBA Finals

The Hall of Fame power forward and center nearly had a triple-double against the Lakers with 25 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in 53 minutes of a 116-111 overtime loss. The Knicks would lose the series in Game 5.

8. Bill Bradley: Game 1 of 1972 NBA Finals

Bradley hit 11 of 12 shots and scored 29 points against the Lakers in a 114-92 win, the Knicks’ only win in the series. Bradley heldthe record for highest field-goal percentage in an NBA Finals game at 91.7% until the Celtics' Scott Wedman went 11-for-11 in Game 1 of the 1985 NBA Finals. 

7. Connie Simmons: Game 4 of 1952 NBA Finals

Simmons, a center/power forward, outplayed Minneapolis Lakers Hall of Fame center George Mikan, scoring 30 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 90-89 win to even the series at 2-2.

6. Charles Oakley: Game 4 of 1994 NBA Finals

The rugged power forward scored 16 points and grabbed 20 rebounds (nine offensive) in a legendary performance as the Knicks rallied to beat the Rockets, 91-82, and tie the series at 2-2.

5. Dave DeBusschere: Game 4 of 1973 NBA Finals

DeBusschere scored a game-high 33 points and grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds in a 103-98 win over the Lakers, giving the Knicks a 3-1 series lead. The Knicks then clinched their second title in franchise history in Game 5 in Los Angeles.

4. Willis Reed: Game 3 of 1970 NBA Finals

The Reed vs. Wilt Chamberlain battle was colossal. After scoring 37 points against Chamberlain in a Game 1 win, Reed played perhaps his best game of the series in Game 3. He scored 38 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in 49 minutes in a 111-108 overtime win over the Lakers, giving the Knicks a 2-1 series lead.

3. Patrick Ewing: Game 5 of 1994 NBA Finals

The Hall of Fame center had his best game of the series in Game 5 in his duel against Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets, scoring 25 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and tying the NBA Finals record at the time with eight blocked shots. The Knicks won the game, 91-84, to take a 3-2 series lead but couldn’t clinch the title in Games 6 or 7 in Houston.

2. Walt Frazier: Game 7 of 1970 NBA Finals

With Reed hurting and limping up and down the court, Frazier played the best game of his Hall of Fame career. The flashy point guard had one of the best performances in NBA Finals history with 36 points, 19 assists, seven rebounds and five steals in the 113-99 win over the Lakers.

1. Willis Reed: Game 7 of 1970 NBA Finals

Reed was drafted by the Knicks in 1964 and became the captain and heart and soul of the team. It was a daunting task for the Knicks to play without Reed against Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers. Reed severely tore his thigh muscle in Game 5 and sat out Game 6. His availability for Game 7 was unknown, but Reed hobbled through the Madison Square Garden tunnel and onto the court before tipoff, inspiring his teammates, stunning the Lakers and turning the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy. Reed knocked down his first two shots and didn’t score again. But the damage had been done. He played 27 minutes and his presence and defense on Chamberlain were enough. The Knicks beat the Lakers, 113-99, to win their first NBA title. It remains arguably the greatest moment in franchise history and one of the greatest moments in NBA Finals history. Reed was named Finals MVP.