New York Knicks Pull Off Historic Comeback Against San Antonio Spurs

The New York Knicks achieved a historic comeback, overcoming a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. This victory brings them close to their first championship since 1973, holding a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

OG Anunoby clinched the game-winning point by tipping in the miss of Jalen Brunson’s long 3-point shot with only 1.2 seconds remaining. Anunoby’s decisive play gave the Knicks three opportunities to secure the title.

The Spurs dominated early, securing a 27-point halftime lead. However, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks’ comeback with 36 points, while Anunoby contributed 33 points, including the crucial last-second tip-in.

“I told OG as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight,” remarked Knicks coach Mike Brown. “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.

No team had previously overcome more than a 24-point deficit in the finals since Boston did it against the Lakers in 2008. The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter.

The Knicks’ comeback is the second largest on record in any playoff game, only surpassed by the Los Angeles Clippers’ 31-point comeback against Golden State in 2019.

After their 13-game winning streak ended in Game 3, the Knicks seemed to be facing another defeat. The young Spurs team made significant progress in the first half, but they lost their momentum in the second half. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 58-30, leading to the improbable comeback.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson commented on the team’s performance, saying, “We got on our heels — we missed some shots. It’s disappointing, to say the least.”

At Madison Square Garden, fans enthusiastically sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” while witnessing what seemed almost impossible. Although Victor Wembanyama scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, his shooting was off, hitting only 9 of 25 attempts.

Despite previous victories by road teams in this series, the Knicks fought hard to turn things around in the third quarter, restraining the Spurs to just 14 points with a 13-0 run, closing in 90-75 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Knicks showed their resilience by coming from behind yet again. Even after Stephon Castle’s free throws put San Antonio ahead with 30 seconds left, the Knicks found a way to seal the victory.

In the post-game reflection, Wembanyama admitted, “I think it began before (the fourth quarter)… We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”

Before the game, fans expressed their discontent toward Wembanyama during warm-ups. The match was physically intense, with significant fouls committed on both sides. Mitchell Robinson’s and Jose Alvarado’s aggressive plays were scrutinized, and Wembanyama himself was flagged during a scuffle.

Initially, the Spurs surged to a 12-2 lead, consistently maintaining a double-digit advantage throughout the first quarter. They extended their lead to 57-32 with a series of successful 3-point shots.