Knicks on Verge of First Title Since 1973 After Historic Comeback
The New York Knicks pulled off an extraordinary comeback, overcoming a 29-point deficit against the San Antonio Spurs to win 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. This victory places them just one win away from their first championship in over five decades.
New York’s remarkable rally was completed when OG Anunoby tipped in the rebound of Jalen Brunson’s missed three-pointer with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock. This triumph gives the Knicks a 3-1 series lead, with three opportunities to secure the title.
At halftime, the Spurs held a commanding 27-point advantage, but the Knicks, led by Brunson’s 36 points and Anunoby’s 33, mounted a stunning turnaround. Anunoby’s decisive play at the rim capped off the comeback as Brunson’s shot grazed the rim’s front.
“I told OG as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight,” Knicks coach Mike Brown commented. “I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history of Knicks basketball.”
Game 5 is set for Saturday night in San Antonio.
This comeback was the largest in NBA Finals history, surpassing Boston’s 24-point rally against the Lakers in 2008. The Spurs had built a 29-point lead, reaching 81-52 in the third quarter.
The Knicks’ triumph marks the second greatest comeback in playoff history, trailing only the Los Angeles Clippers’ 31-point comeback against Golden State in 2019.
The Knicks’ 13-game winning streak had ended in Game 3, and they seemed headed for another loss as Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs dominated the first half. However, the Spurs’ shooting cooled in the second half, particularly from beyond the arc, where they made only 3 of 17 attempts. This allowed the Knicks to outscore them 58-30 in the final quarters.
“We got on our heels — we missed some shots,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson lamented. “It’s disappointing, to say the least.”
Inside Madison Square Garden, fans erupted in celebration, singing along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” as the Knicks defied the odds. Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds but struggled with accuracy, shooting just 9 of 25.
While President Donald Trump wasn’t in attendance, Taylor Swift was, and security remained tight around Madison Square Garden, preventing the Knicks from hosting an outdoor watch party.
Despite a challenging first half, the Knicks limited the Spurs to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter. The Knicks’ resilience, demonstrated earlier in the playoffs with a comeback against Cleveland, was on full display as they erased the massive deficit.
Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 21 points, while De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each contributed 18. The Spurs will aim to force a Game 6, scheduled for Tuesday in New York.
Wembanyama acknowledged the team’s second-half struggles, saying, “I think it began before (the fourth quarter). I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. … We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”
Wembanyama also faced a hostile reception from Knicks fans and a physical game, receiving a flagrant foul call. He missed two critical free throws with 1:47 remaining, which could have extended the Spurs’ narrow lead.
The Spurs began the game strong, jumping to a 12-2 lead and maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout the first quarter. They shot exceptionally well from three-point range early on, with Julian Champagnie’s three-pointer extending their lead to 57-32.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
