What happened: Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) published a video piece for NBA on Prime as the New York Knicks return to the NBA Finals on Thursday night. The signal frames New York's arrival on the league's biggest stage as the Finals open.
Why it matters: The Knicks' return caps a 27-year absence from the Finals, a milestone moment for one of the league's marquee franchises as New York opens the series tonight with history on the line.
By the numbers: New York's appearance is its first NBA Finals trip in 27 years, dating to its previous run in 1999.
What to watch: Game 1 tips off Thursday night, with the Knicks looking to make their first Finals appearance in nearly three decades count.