THE STORY
In Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 14, a brawl between Miami's P.J. Brown and New York's Charlie Ward led to suspensions of six players: Brown received two games, while Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, John Starks, and Charlie Ward were each suspended for one game. The Knicks, missing key players, lost Game 6 and the series, with the Heat advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
New York Knicks, Miami Heat
WHY IT MATTERS
The suspensions significantly impacted the Knicks' lineup, contributing to their elimination from the playoffs and altering the course of the postseason.