Knicks Comeback
New York Knicks Rally From 29 Points Down, Defeat Spurs for 3-1 Finals Lead
The New York Knicks pulled off the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday night, erasing a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 at Madison Square Garden AP. The stunning win gives New York a 3-1 series lead and puts the franchise one victory away from its first NBA championship since 1973 — a 53-year drought AP.
OG Anunoby tipped in a Jalen Brunson miss with 1.2 seconds left to complete one of the most dramatic finishes in sports history AP. The crowd erupted into a rendition of "Don't Stop Believin'" as MSG transformed, in the words of one observer, "from the scene of a funeral to a miracle" Yardbarker.
How the Knicks Erased a 29-Point Hole
The Spurs looked unstoppable early. San Antonio shot 65% from the floor in the first quarter and led 41-20 after one period, with Devin Vassell hitting four three-pointers KTRH. By halftime, the Spurs were up 76-49 — the largest halftime lead by a visiting team in NBA Finals history AP.
The deficit hit its peak of 29 points early in the third quarter, with the score sitting at 81-52 AP. Then the Knicks turned it on. They outscored the Spurs 26-14 in the third quarter, with Anunoby burying a buzzer-beating three to close the frame AP. A furious 20-4 run in the fourth cut the lead to one possession, and the Spurs never recovered.
Brunson and Anunoby Carry New York on Their Backs
Jalen Brunson played 44 minutes and finished with 36 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds Yardbarker. He was the engine of the comeback, refusing to let the Knicks fold even as the deficit grew. Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points AP.
Anunoby was the story of the night. He scored 33 points, hit 7 of 9 three-point attempts, and delivered the game-winning tip-in Yardbarker. He also had a key block on De'Aaron Fox in the final minute that kept the door open SNY. Fox, a prized offseason addition for San Antonio, saw a potential game-sealing shot swatted away.
Wembanyama's Free Throws and the Spurs' Historic Collapse
Victor Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but went just 9-for-25 from the floor AP. His biggest miss came at the free-throw line. He failed to convert two critical free throws with under a minute left, a moment that will haunt San Antonio fans for years AP.
The Spurs' shooting collapse tells the whole story. They went from 60% from the floor in the first half to just 21% — 4-for-19 — in the fourth quarter KTRH. Specifically, they hit 11 of 16 three-pointers in the first half, then made just 3 of 17 in the second AP. Coach Mitch Johnson is facing scrutiny for resting Wembanyama during a critical 13-0 Knicks run in the third quarter AP.
A Record That Rewrites Finals History — and What Comes Next
The previous record for the largest comeback in an NBA Finals game was 24 points, set by the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the 2008 Finals AP. The Knicks blew past that mark by five points. Analysts are already calling it the "worst loss in NBA history" and comparing it to the Atlanta Falcons' 28-3 Super Bowl collapse.
The Knicks now stand 3-1 in the series. Only one team in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-1 Finals deficit — the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers AP. Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, in San Antonio. For New York, one more win ends a 53-year wait. For the Spurs' young core — led by Wembanyama and rookie Dylan Harper — the psychological recovery starts now AP.
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