This certainly wasn’t expected.

It seemed a given for most of the season’s second half that the Knicks and Celtics would meet in the second round for the second consecutive year. But the 76ers ruined that plan with a stunning comeback after trailing 3-1 in their first-round series with Boston.

Now, a rematch of 2024 looms, when the Knicks eliminated the 76ers in six games in the first round.

This year, the teams split their four head-to-head meetings 2-2. Interestingly, the home team lost all four matchups.