The New York Knicks achieved a historic comeback, overcoming a 29-point deficit to secure a 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, positioning themselves just one win away from their first championship since 1973.
With only 1.2 seconds remaining, OG Anunoby scored on a tip-in following a missed three-point shot by Jalen Brunson, allowing the Knicks to take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and putting them in a favorable position to clinch the title.
Initially, the situation appeared dire as the Spurs dominated the first half, leading by 27 points at halftime. However, Brunson’s remarkable performance, scoring 36 points, alongside Anunoby’s 33 points, propelled the Knicks back into contention.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio.
No team had previously mounted a comeback from a deficit larger than 24 points in a finals matchup since the NBA began detailed play-by-play records in 1997, with the Boston Celtics achieving this against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008. At one point, the Spurs were ahead 81-52 in the third quarter.
The only larger comeback in playoff history was by the Los Angeles Clippers, who overcame a 31-point deficit against the Golden State Warriors in a first-round game in 2019.
After having their 13-game winning streak halted in Game 3, the Knicks appeared to be on track for another defeat during the first half, as Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs established the largest halftime lead by a visiting team in finals history.
However, the Spurs struggled in the second half, hitting only 3 of 17 three-point attempts, while the Knicks surged ahead, outscoring them 58-30.
“We got on our heels — we missed some shots,” lamented Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “It’s disappointing, to say the least.”
Ecstatic fans at Madison Square Garden joined in singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” shortly after witnessing an improbable turnaround.
Wembanyama contributed with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but his shooting was subpar, making only 9 of 25 attempts from the floor.
Road teams had won the first three games of the series, marking only the second instance of this occurrence in NBA Finals history. The Spurs seemed poised to extend this streak before the Knicks’ remarkable comeback.
While former President Donald Trump was absent from this game, pop star Taylor Swift was present. Nonetheless, the same restrictions remained in place around Madison Square Garden, which frustrated the Knicks, leading them to cancel plans for an outdoor viewing party.
During the first half, the Knicks struggled to find any rhythm. Yet, they managed to create an opportunity by limiting the Spurs to just 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter, initiating a 13-0 run that brought the score to 90-75 as they entered the final quarter.
This Knicks team has demonstrated resilience throughout the playoffs, previously erasing a 22-point deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Even when it seemed their comeback effort was in vain after Stephon Castle’s two free throws put the Spurs ahead again with 30 seconds left, the Knicks found the strength to rally once more.
Dylan Harper scored 21 points for the Spurs, while De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell added 18 each as the team seeks to regroup and force a Game 6 back in New York on Tuesday.
As the game began, Wembanyama faced hostility from Knicks fans, who booed him during warm-ups. The Knicks attempted to play aggressively against him, with Mitchell Robinson receiving a flagrant foul for a high hit and Jose Alvarado reviewed for a low blow.
Wembanyama, who also received a flagrant foul, managed to withstand the physical play but will likely regret missing two crucial free throws with 1:47 left on the clock, as the Spurs led 104-103 at that moment.
