The New York Knicks have positioned themselves one victory away from their first championship in 51 years, completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4.
Facing a 29-point deficit at home, the Knicks mounted an unlikely rally that culminated with OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining. The winning basket came off a missed three-pointer by Jalen Brunson and sent Madison Square Garden into celebration as thousands of fans poured into the streets of Midtown Manhattan.
"Right hand from God," Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said of the decisive play.
The Spurs had controlled most of the contest, building a commanding lead early. San Antonio started the game aggressively, forcing Towns to the bench with two fouls before three minutes had elapsed. The Spurs made 11 of their first 16 three-point attempts and led 41-22 after one quarter. By halftime, they held a 76-49 advantage, the largest halftime lead by a visiting team in NBA Finals history.
The turning point arrived in the third quarter. New York limited San Antonio to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting, with the Spurs struggling particularly in the paint. The Knicks chipped away methodically, entering the final period down just 15 points.
The fourth quarter transformation proved dramatic. The Knicks went on a 28-9 run over seven minutes, converting defensive stops into fast-break opportunities. Brunson delivered the breakthrough with a layup giving New York a 105-104 lead with 1:22 remaining. After the Spurs retook the lead, Brunson's final three-pointer missed, but Anunoby slipped through the defense for the winning tip-in.
The Knicks led for just 53.8 seconds total, but those final 1.2 seconds determined the outcome.
Anunoby finished with 33 points and made 7 of 9 three-pointers, both career playoff highs. Brunson added 36 points and seven assists, while Jose Alvarado contributed 8 points off the bench during the fourth-quarter surge.
Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Dylan Harper added 21 points for the Spurs, who were outscored 58-30 in the second half and made only 3 of 17 three-pointers after halftime.
With the 3-1 series lead, the Knicks can clinch the championship in Game 5 in San Antonio on Saturday night. Only the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers have overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit to win a championship. The Spurs would need to become just the second team in NBA history to accomplish the feat.