The New York Knicks showcased remarkable resilience during the 1997-98 season, overcoming the loss of star center Patrick Ewing to injury for much of the year to finish with a 43-39 record. Led by the scoring of Allan Houston and Larry Johnson, along with the defensive tenacity of All-Defensive Second Team selection Charles Oakley, the team secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Their competitive spirit was on full display in the playoffs as they achieved a thrilling first-round series victory over the second-seeded Miami Heat to advance to the Conference Semifinals for the seventh consecutive year. A two-time NBA All-Star and 2000 Olympic gold medalist, Allan Houston was a premier shooting guard who played nine seasons for the New York Knicks and famously hit the series-winning shot to upset the Miami Heat in the 1999 playoffs.