With their backs firmly against the wall and the Madison Square Garden crowd on the verge of total heartbreak, the New York Knicks engineered an unforgettable chapter in basketball history. Facing a staggering 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Knicks staged the largest comeback in Finals history to edge past the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. The stunning victory has completely flipped the script of the championship series, putting the Knicks just one win away from capturing their first NBA title since 1973.
For the first half of the night, a comeback felt entirely out of reach. The Spurs stormed out of the gates with an aggressive offense, completely silencing the raucous New York crowd for the second consecutive game. San Antonio pushed their advantage to 29 points in the second half, registering the largest half-time lead ever recorded in an NBA Finals game. Looking thoroughly dominant, the Spurs seemed well on their way to leveling the series and seizing all the momentum.
Brunson and Anunoby Ignite Historic Rally
The game turned completely on its head when Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby took control. Brunson shook off a nightmare opening quarter, during which he missed all four of his field-goal attempts, to finish with a game-high 36 points, seven assists, and three steals. Time and again, the dynamic point guard delivered crucial baskets precisely when New York desperately needed to chip away at the deficit.
Anunoby was equally spectacular, matching the defensive intensity with an incredibly efficient offensive clinic. The forward poured in 33 points on 10-for-15 shooting, which included a blistering 7-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc. Beyond the scoring, it was Anunoby’s relentless hustle that ultimately secured the historic win.
With mere seconds remaining on the clock, Jalen Brunson launched a go-ahead three-pointer that hit the rim and missed. Refusing to quit on the play, Anunoby battled through a sea of black-and-silver Spurs jerseys to snatch the offensive rebound and execute a dramatic, game-winning putback. The clutch bucket put the Knicks up by a single point with only 1.1 seconds remaining, sending Madison Square Garden into absolute pandemonium.
Wembanyama Fades Under Pressure
While New York’s star duo rose to the historic occasion, San Antonio’s phenom Victor Wembanyama endured a brutal second half. The 22-year-old French star started the game beautifully, anchoring the Spurs’ massive early lead. However, his rhythm completely evaporated after the intermission.
During the height of the Knicks’ furious second-half surge, Wembanyama went cold, missing 10 of 11 consecutive field goal attempts. He finished the night with 24 points but shot an inefficient 9-of-25 from the floor overall. The pressure clearly mounted down the stretch, highlighted by Brunson drilling a crucial three-pointer directly over the towering center. Wembanyama also missed two high-stakes free throws late in the fourth quarter that could have safely restored San Antonio’s lead.
With the series now standing at 3-1 in favor of New York, the structural pressure shifts entirely onto the shoulders of the young Spurs squad. The teams will now head back to Texas for Game 5, where the Knicks will have their very first chance to close out an unforgettable championship run, while San Antonio must find a way to mentally regroup just to keep their season alive.