The New York Knicks made a historic comeback, rallying from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. This win on Wednesday night puts the Knicks on the verge of their first championship since 1973, giving them a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
OG Anunoby tipped in a missed 3-point shot from Jalen Brunson with just 1.2 seconds left. This clutch play sealed the rally. The Knicks now have three chances to win the title.
A Record-Breaking Comeback
The game seemed lost early on. The Spurs had a 27-point lead by halftime and were up 81-52 in the third quarter. However, Brunson led the Knicks' charge with 36 points. Anunoby added 33 points, including the game-winning tip-in.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxKnicks coach Mike Brown praised Anunoby's effort. He told Anunoby to be a "monster on the offensive glass." Brown called the final play one of the biggest in Knicks history.
No team had ever come back from more than 24 points down in an NBA Finals game since detailed play-by-play records began in 1997. The Boston Celtics achieved that against the Lakers in 2008. The only bigger playoff comeback was 31 points by the Los Angeles Clippers against Golden State in 2019.
The Spurs had won Game 3, ending the Knicks' 13-game winning streak. They started Game 4 strong, making 11 of their first 16 three-pointers. However, their shooting went cold in the second half, hitting only 3 of 17 from beyond the arc. The Knicks outscored them 58-30 in the second half.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed disappointment, noting his team "got on our heels" and "missed some shots."
The Final Moments
Victor Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Spurs, but shot only 9 for 25 from the field. He also missed two crucial free throws late in the game.
The Knicks showed their resilience, limiting the Spurs to just 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter. They used a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 90-75 by the fourth quarter.
These Knicks are known for not giving up. They previously erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. Even when Stephon Castle's free throws put the Spurs back ahead with 30 seconds left, the Knicks found one more rally.
Dylan Harper scored 21 points for the Spurs, with De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each adding 18. Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio. Wembanyama admitted the Spurs "clearly weren't the most hungry in the second half."
