It was the first Knicks playoff game in seven years. Madison Square Garden had opened at near capacity for the first time since the pandemic.

Game 1 in 2021 felt momentous. It was rowdy, boozy, venomous toward Atlanta’s Trae Young.&nbsp; Despite the Knicks losing that night, it was the loudest I’ve heard the Garden in my time covering the NBA — rivaled only by Linsanity.&nbsp;

And Saturday afternoon’s atmosphere could easily be more berserk.

“I feel like it’s going to be crazy,” Jalen Brunson said.&nbsp;

NYC isn’t emerging from a virus-induced lockdown like four years ago, but the Knicks are emerging from a 25-year streak of having no realistic chance of reaching the NBA Finals. {ai:summary}<p>The Knicks returned to the playoffs after a seven-year absence, with Madison Square Garden nearly full for the first time since the pandemic. Game 1 in 2021 was marked by a lively atmosphere, despite a loss to Atlanta, and expectations are high for an even more intense crowd this Saturday.</p><p>Players like Jalen Brunson anticipate a wild environment as fans rally behind the team. #sports</p>

Madison Square Garden is about to become new kind of Knicks madhouse

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