Spurs blow historic lead as Knicks seize control of NBA Finals
The comeback was the largest in NBA Finals history.
NEW YORK – The San Antonio Spurs were 24 minutes away from evening the NBA Finals. Instead, they suffered one of the most crushing losses in franchise history.
The New York Knicks erased a 29-point deficit Wednesday night and stunned the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Why it matters: The comeback was the largest in NBA Finals history.
By the numbers:
- San Antonio led 76-49 at halftime after drilling a Finals-record 14 three-pointers in the first half.
- The Spurs outscored New York 41-22 in the opening quarter.
- New York closed the game on a huge second-half surge, holding San Antonio to just 30 points after halftime.
- Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, while OG Anunoby added 33 and delivered the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.
What happened: For much of the night, the Spurs looked like they were going to head home with the series tied.
Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell fueled a sizzling offense as San Antonio repeatedly punished New York's defense. The Knicks appeared overwhelmed, and Madison Square Garden grew quiet as the Spurs built a lead that swelled to 29 points.
Everything changed in the second half. New York opened the second half with a 13-0 run and slowly chipped away at the deficit. Brunson began attacking relentlessly, Anunoby caught fire from beyond the arc, and the Spurs' offense stalled under mounting pressure.
By the fourth quarter, the Garden crowd was fully back in the game. The Knicks finally grabbed their first lead of the night when Brunson connected on a floater with just over a minute remaining. Stephon Castle briefly put San Antonio back in front with two clutch free throws, but the Spurs couldn't close the door.
The turning point: Leading by one in the final seconds, San Antonio appeared like they were to escape with a win. Instead, a costly possession changed everything.
De'Aaron Fox pushed toward the basket to score rather than running out the clock and had his layup attempt blocked by Anunoby. That gave New York one final chance. Moments later, Brunson missed a contested shot, but Anunoby slipped free under the rim and tipped it home for the game-winner.
What they're saying: The loss left the Spurs searching for answers after watching a victory disappear.
- "We got away from what got us the lead in the first half," Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said.
San Antonio shot lights out early but struggled to generate quality offense as the Knicks increased their defensive intensity in the second half.
"We work too hard and give up our leads, you know, just as simple as that. It's just, it's just.. it just hurts," Wembanyama said.
What's next: The series shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday, with the Spurs now facing elimination.
To keep their championship hopes alive, they'll need to recover quickly from a defeat that will be remembered as one of the most painful collapses in NBA Finals history.
