Remembering when Alonzo Mourning dragged Jeff Van Gundy in middle of wild Knicks vs. Heat playoff fight

The Knicks and Heat will add another chapter to their fierce rivalry in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, but it will be tough to match the sheer intensity that previous teams brought to the floor in the 1990s.

New York and Miami met four consecutive times in the NBA Playoffs to end that decade. There were thrilling finishes, brutal fights and, of course, suspensions.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of that stretch came in the first round of the 1998 playoffs when Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy gave basketball fans an image they would never forget.

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Remembering when Alonzo Mourning dragged Jeff Van Gundy in NBA Playoffs

In the closing seconds of the Knicks' Game 4 win, which tied the best-of-five series at two games apiece, Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning got tangled up near the baseline. The former Hornets teammates fired punches at each other, and Charles Oakley jumped in front of Mourning to stop the brawl.

But Oakley wasn't the only person attempting to (sort of) play peacemaker. Van Gundy flew off the sideline and tried to grab Mourning. As he fell to the ground, Van Gundy latched onto Mourning's leg and went for a ride.

"You know, people ask me about that and truly — and I'm not trying to be funny — but I understand why some criminals plead temporary insanity. I truly have no recollection," Van Gundy told The Ringer. "They say, 'What were you thinking?' And obviously I wasn't.

"I fell down Mourning's leg [because] he's so big and strong, but also Larry Johnson hit me with a glancing blow a little bit, so I was a little unaware."

Fallout from Knicks vs. Heat fight

Johnson and Mourning were each suspended for two games, and New York forward Chris Mills earned a one-game suspension because he left the bench area. Mourning ($20,000), Johnson ($10,000) and Mills ($2,500) were also fined for their actions.

With Johnson sidelined, Allan Houston did his best to carry the offense in Game 5, scoring 30 points in a 98-81 win. John Starks added 22 points, and Oakley finished with a double-double (18 points, 13 rebounds). The Knicks then lost to the Pacers in the second round.

While the incident was no laughing matter at the time, the coaches and players who witnessed the scuffle can now find the humor in the chaos of the situation.

"Unfortunately, I was hurt, and Jeff went out there to try and stick up for Larry. He grabs Alonzo, and Alonzo being so strong, all you see is Jeff just sliding down his body," Knicks center Patrick Ewing told ESPN. "And all he's trying to do is just hold on to his leg for dear life.

"That was the funniest thing that I've ever seen in sports."

Jeff Van Gundy coaching record