The New York Knicks secured their first NBA title in over five decades with a stunning victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the Finals. The 107-106 win marked one of the most dramatic comebacks in basketball history.
Facing a 29-point deficit at one point during the game, the Knicks mounted an improbable rally to claim the championship. OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining proved to be the decisive play. Jalen Brunson had missed a contested three-pointer in the closing moments, but Anunoby slipped through the defense to secure the victory.
"Right hand from God," said Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, describing Anunoby's winning basket.
The Spurs dominated most of the game. San Antonio buried 11 of their first 16 attempts from three-point range and held a 76-49 lead at halftime, marking the largest half-time advantage by a visiting team in NBA Finals history. The deficit reached 29 points with 9 minutes and 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The Knicks' turnaround began in the third quarter when New York held San Antonio to just 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting. The fourth quarter brought an explosive 28-9 run over seven minutes as the team converted defensive stops into fast-break opportunities. Brunson delivered a key lay-up with 1 minute and 22 seconds left to give the Knicks their first lead of the game.
Anunoby finished with 33 points and made seven of nine attempts from beyond the arc, both playoff career highs. Brunson added 36 points and seven assists. Jose Alvarado provided crucial support off the bench with eight points during the fourth-quarter surge.
"You're down 29, you're thinking, 'OK let's get it to 20,'" said Josh Hart. "There's three minutes left in the third quarter, we're down 18, you're thinking, 'Let's get it to 10.' In the fourth quarter, you're like, 'This is winning time. Anything can happen.'"
Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Devin Harper contributed 21 points. The Spurs were outscored 58-30 in the second half and shot just 3-for-17 from three-point range after halftime.
The championship represents the franchise's first title since 1973 and the third in the team's 80-year history. No team had previously overcome a deficit greater than 24 points in an NBA Finals game. Only LeBron James's Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 have overturned a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.
The victory ended one of the longest title droughts in North American professional sports and sparked celebrations throughout New York City.