The New York Knicks pulled off a stunning comeback from a 29-point deficit to edge the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 on Wednesday night. This win places them on the verge of their first NBA championship since 1973. OG Anunoby’s crucial tip-in of Jalen Brunson’s missed long-range attempt with just 1.2 seconds remaining secured the victory. The Knicks now lead the NBA Finals 3-1, with three opportunities to clinch the title.
The match seemed out of reach initially, as the Spurs dominated with a 27-point lead at halftime. However, Brunson stepped up, scoring 36 points, and Anunoby added 33 points, including the decisive tip-in. Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Anunoby’s aggressive performance on the offensive glass, emphasizing the historical significance of the play in Knicks basketball.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio. No team had managed to recover from more than a 24-point deficit in a finals game since the NBA started recording detailed play-by-play data in 1997. The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter, but went cold on their shots, allowing the Knicks to outscore them 58-30 in the second half.
The largest comeback in any playoff game on record was by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, recovering from a 31-point deficit against Golden State in the first round.
Despite snapping their 13-game winning streak in Game 3, the Knicks avoided a second consecutive loss. Their resilience shone through as they limited the Spurs to only 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter, going on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit and entering the fourth quarter at 90-75. The Knicks, known for erasing a 22-point deficit against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, continued fighting back. They faced a setback when Stephon Castle put San Antonio ahead with two free throws late in the fourth quarter, but managed another rally to seize victory.
Dylan Harper led with 21 points for the Spurs. De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each added 18 points, but San Antonio now faces the challenge of sending the series back to New York for Game 6. Spurs player Victor Wembanyama scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, but struggled with 9-for-25 shooting.
Wembanyama’s performance was met with boos when he warmed up before the game, and he faced physical play from the Knicks, including Mitchell Robinson’s flagrant foul. Wembanyama will regret missing two free throws with San Antonio leading late in the game.
The Spurs established double-digit leads early in all four games of the series. They began with a 12-2 advantage and continued to press, leading 41-22 after the first quarter and extending it further by making 11 of their first 16 3-point attempts.