Knicks Complete Record Rally From 29 Points Down And Beat Spurs 107-106 For 3-1 NBA Finals Lead
Shock and awe.
Those are the words that best describe Game 4 between the Spurs and the Knicks….on both sides. An epic comeback by the Knicks seeking their first title since 1973 and a colossal collapse by a young Spur team on the verge of greatness may define this series.
The New York Knicks completed the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, holding the Spurs to 30 second half points and rallying from a 29-point deficit to take Game 4 107-106 and a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. It was also the largest comeback from a halftime deficit (27) in NBA playoff history.
San Antonio Builds Massive First-Half Lead Behind Record Shooting
The Spurs once again got off to a red hot start racing out to a 12-2 lead, giving them a double-digit advantage in the first quarter of all four games. The lead was 44-22 after the first quarter and by halftime the lead had swelled to 27, 75-49. The scorching Spurs set the NBA Finals record for threes in a half with 14 makes from long distance, including 11 of their first 16 attempts.
The Spurs looked poised to cruise to a Game 4 victory and coming back to the Alamo City for Game 5 with the series tied at two games apiece. The Knicks had other ideas.
With 9:40 left in the third quarter the visitors led by 81-52. That’s when the wheels fell off for the Silver and Black. The teams at that point switched roles. The Spurs went ice cold, and the Knicks? Well the Knicks commenced to reel off a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to close the gap.
The Spurs were able to maintain and led 95-75 with 9:33 left in the game. The Knicks however went on a 30-9 run to take their first lead of the game 105-104 with 1:22 seconds remaining.
The collapse was complete.
“We got on our heels — we missed some shots,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said in his postgame comments. “It’s disappointing, to say the least.”
Wembanyama Struggles Late As Spurs Lose Control
It was a rough night for V-Dub as he struggled primarily in the second half. Despite 16 first half points, he finished the game with 24 points on 9-for-25 shooting from the field and a horrendous 2-for-8 from three with 13 rebounds.
“I think it began before (the fourth quarter),” Wembanyama said of the Spurs’ collapse. “I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. … We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”
What some are describing as one of the biggest collapses in sports history, the Spurs shot a dismal 3-for-17 from three in the second half.
Dylan Harper scored 21 points and De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each had 18 for the Spurs.
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson had his best game of the series leading all scorers with 36 points on 12-for-25 shooting. He was 3-for-7 from distance with five rebounds, and seven assists.
OG Anunoby; who in my opinion has been the most consistent Knick in the Finals, finished with 33 points on 10-for-15 from the floor. He was 7-for-9 from three and more importantly had the game winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.
“We’re a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot,” Anunoby said. “We’ve come back plenty of times when we’re behind. Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated.”
“I told OG as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history of Knicks basketball.”
