Big or small, the Knicks have not been three games away from winning a title since June 1999. Back then, in a lockout-shortened season, New York fought San Antonio in the NBA Finals eventually dropping them 4-1.
The Knicks lost back-to-back games to get the series going with both of those matchups taking place in Texas. They went on to cut the Spurs lead in the series in half in Game 3 beating San Antonio to make it 2-1 entering a pivotal Game 4.
The Spurs took that game from the Knicks by seven points, and then, in soul-breaking fashion, New York surrendered the long-chased Larry O’B on June 25, 1999, when they lost Game 5 78-77, at MSG, to Pop’s mob.