| There are no guarantees. The Knicks aren't out of the first round yet. Crazy things happen this time of year, injuries and upsets and unexpected results.
But after Jalen Brunson's heroic effort in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, the superstar guard — yes, that title now fits — going for a franchise playoff record 47 points, the path is clear.
Tom Thibodeau's Knicks can think about reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000. After beating the 76ers in Philadelphia, 97-92, they now have three chances to send Joel Embiid and the 76ers home, starting Tuesday night at the Garden, and it appears neither team they may face has the look of a juggernaut.
Already trailing 2-1 in the opening round series, Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles tendon grade 1 strain) for the Bucks' 126-113 Game 4 loss Sunday night to the Pacers, setting the Knicks up as major favorites should they and Indiana both advance. Had the Bucks been healthy, and gotten past the Pacers as most expected, the Knicks would've still had home court advantage. But Milwaukee would've been the betting favorite, led by Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP who has yet to play in the postseason.
 Jalen Brunson's 47-point afternoon moved the Knicks within one win of reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals against either the Pacers or the Bucks.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
The Bucks can obviously still rally to win that series, but it is trending toward Knicks-Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Knicks lost the season series to Milwaukee, dropping three of five games, and they did lose two of three to the Pacers as well.
But all three of the games against Indiana came without OG Anunoby, who is such a difference maker, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. He has shown it throughout this series against the 76ers, defending Embiid at times while chipping in across the stat sheet. Sunday he was pivotal, the second best Knick after Brunson, producing 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in 47 sterling minutes.
After ousting the Cavaliers in five games last year in the opening round, the Knicks caught a break in facing the eighth-seeded Heat, who knocked out Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. This is very different. The Pacers lack the Heat's experience. As good as Tyrese Haliburton may be, he's no Jimmy Butler. Rick Carlisle is a terrific coach, but he's not Erik Spoelstra. Remember, Miami not only ousted the Knicks, but it beat the Celtics, too, going all the way to the NBA Finals.
Indiana is a fun young team, but it won't strike fear in anyone. Certainly not these Knicks.
 When OG Anunoby wasn't defending Joel Embiid in Game 4, he was recording a double-double along with three blocks.
Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
So, go ahead, Knicks fans. Dream big. Dream about a showdown with the powerhouse Celtics in the conference finals. After Sunday, it's not just realistic. It may just be likely.
Today's back page  New York Post
How sweep it is Five takeaways from the Rangers' 4-2 victory over the Capitals in Game 4 on Sunday night in Washington, D.C., which finished off a four-game sweep.
1. The Rangers had to wait until Game 82 to capture all of the regular-season prizes — first place in the Metropolitan Division, top seed in the Eastern Conference and the Presidents' Trophy. But they made quick work of the first round, doing what no other team was able to do.
The extra rest and accrual of minimal wear and tear can only help them in the second round, likely against the Carolina Hurricanes, who will be forced to play at least an additional 81 minutes and 24 seconds because they couldn't finish off the Islanders in regulation time of Game 4 on Saturday.
And the result continues the comparisons with 1994, when the Rangers opened the postseason with a sweep of the Islanders on the way to the Stanley Cup. Getting through the first two series in a total of nine games in '94 helped the Blueshirts battle through the remaining seven-game gauntlets with the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks.
 The Rangers' quick work of the Capitals could come in handy in the later rounds of the playoffs.
Jason Szenes for the NY Post
2a. One of the biggest edges the Rangers figured to have entering this series was in net with Igor Shesterkin against Charlie Lindgren. Ryan's older brother wasn't terrible, but the Rangers' ability to quickly answer Washington goals made it hard for the Capitals to seize any momentum. It wasn't exactly a Herculean effort needed from Shesterkin but his .929 save percentage, compared to Lindgren's .864, was the difference in the series, unless it was ...
2b. ... special teams. The Rangers scored six power-play goals and matched the Capitals' two PPGs with two shorthanders over Washington's 17 man-up opportunities.
3. Kaapo Kakko's unassisted goal in the opening minute gave the Rangers 10 different goal-scorers in the opening round. It was the first goal of the series for the unit of Kakko-Alex Wennberg and Will Cuylle, meaning each of the four lines got in on the scoring.
4. With Matt Rempe now in full force, the remaining opponents will have to try to forget whatever they thought they knew about how to play against the Rangers. No longer is it just about trying to stop Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider and solving Shesterkin; for about eight minutes per game they basically have to be on red alert. Which brings us to ...
 Matt Rempe's presence on the ice complicated what the Capitals needed to focus on against the Rangers.
Getty Images
5. Tom Wilson didn't scare the Rangers this time. It was a far cry from May of 2021 when Wilson cross-checked Pavel Buchnevich and rag-dolled Panarin, which led to a line-brawl mismatch against brave Brendan Smith a few nights later and eventually may have played a part in the firings of president John Davidson, GM Jeff Gorton and coach David Quinn.
It's not just the deterrent offered by Rempe. The Rangers are a tougher, more combative team now than they were then throughout the lineup. The disappointments of the losses to the Lightning and Devils the past two years brought with them valuable lessons, and also the arrival of coach Peter Laviolette. The Rangers appear all in for the Stanley Cup chase — in every way. This could get fun.
— Dave Blezow
The Yankees have something brewing The Yankees arrived in Milwaukee filled with questions, particularly about an offense that had slumped badly of late following a four-game series split with the A's. It left flying high.
 Aaron Judge hit two home runs and collected 5 RBIs in the Yankees' 36-run barrage in Milwaukee over the weekend.
Getty Images
They took two of three games with an impressive display of power, and really could've swept the series. It came at a perfect time, entering the first series of the year against the Orioles, the team many experts predicted would win the AL East.
Over three games against the Brewers, the Yankees scored 36 runs, had 43 hits and 10 home runs. The best sign was the previously slumping Aaron Judge homering on consecutive days for the first time this season.
Milwaukee had entered the series playing well, sitting atop the NL Central eight games over .500. The Yankees (19-10), who now own the second-best record in the American League behind the Guardians, crushed the Brewers over the last two days, scoring a combined 30 runs and regaining some of that swagger they had early in the year before a recent dip. Now they can really make a statement over the next three days in Baltimore. The two teams enter the series separated by one game in the standings.
A calculated gamble for Gang Green It's a dart throw. In the fifth round of the NFL Draft, with the 171st overall pick, it's nothing more than that. But it is a smart, measured one.
 Jordan Travis' 20 touchdown passes (against only two interceptions) had Florida State in national title contention before he suffered a broken leg in late November.
AP
Saturday afternoon, the Jets selected Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis, one of college football's best signal-callers this past year before he suffered a gruesome broken leg in late November. At the time, led by Travis, the Seminoles were a national championship contender. He threw for 2,756 yards and 20 touchdown passes, just two interceptions and ran for seven more scores en route to ACC Player of the Year honors.
It's uncertain how much Travis will be able to practice this year as he recovers from the injury. But had he not gotten hurt, he likely would have gone considerably higher, maybe on Day 2. As it is, though, the Jets can bring him along slowly, let him learn from Aaron Rodgers. There are worse ways to get acclimated to playing the position.
What we're reading 👀 ⚾ The Mets came within a strike of getting swept at home by the Cardinals, until Harrison Bader and Mark Vientos donned their capes and engineered a much-needed win in extra innings.
🏀 Perhaps even more surprising than the Knicks' win in Philly was the fact that the Wells Fargo Center sounded at times like MSG with all of the Knicks fans in attendance. Joel Embiid noticed, and he wasn't happy about it.
🏈 Jets GM Joe Douglas has had his eye on improving the Jets' offense this offseason, an effort that got supercharged in the draft when Douglas used the team's first five draft picks on offensive players. Now, as Brian Costello writes, the question is: "Will it work?"
⚾ It looks like MLB's long nightmare surrounding this year's uniforms will be coming to an end by next season at the latest after Nike agreed to redesign their much-lampooned redesign.
🏀 WNBA training camps opened over the weekend, and to no one's surprise, Caitlin Clark and Angele Reese loved getting back on the court.
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