Knicks Historic Comeback Seals 107-106 Win Over Spurs as Anunoby’s Tip Caps Dramatic Rally
Knicks historic comeback delivered a 107-106 victory in Game 4 as New York erased a 29-point deficit to take a 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs.
Knicks rally from 29-point deficit for 107-106 win
The New York Knicks completed one of the largest comebacks in NBA Finals history, overturning a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. OG Anunoby’s decisive tip-in with 4.3 seconds left followed a game-saving defensive play earlier in the closing sequence. The victory gives the Knicks a 3-1 lead as the series shifts back to San Antonio.
The comeback unfolded across the second half after a first half dominated by the Spurs’ perimeter shooting and efficient offense. New York tightened its defense, forced turnovers, and clawed steadily back before Anunoby’s final, airborne tip settled the outcome in Madison Square Garden. The result reverberates for both teams, altering momentum and raising stakes for the upcoming games.
Early Spurs explosion: record-setting first half
San Antonio opened the game in blistering fashion, setting an NBA Finals record for made three-pointers in a half with 14 and building a 27-point lead through the second quarter. The Spurs shot near 60 percent overall in the first half and connected on more than half of their three-point attempts to silence the Garden. That torrid shooting put New York on its heels and painted the early picture as one of San Antonio control and offensive efficiency.
The Spurs’ early success came from both veteran spacing and contributions from their younger core, who attacked the perimeter and created open looks. That barrage translated into a comfortable halftime advantage and seemed to foreshadow a potential road win—until the game pivoted completely in the second half. What looked like an historic Spurs statement instead became the fuel for New York’s resurgence.
Second-half collapse: turnovers and cold shooting
San Antonio’s second half was defined by a dramatic reversal: eight field goals on 39 attempts, 3-of-17 from three after the record first half, and a surge in turnovers that allowed New York to regain possession and energy. The Spurs, who managed only two turnovers in the first half, committed five in each of the third and fourth quarters as pressure mounted. Those miscues combined with fading shooting accuracy to undo their earlier dominance.
Key moments amplified the collapse, including missed free throws late by Victor Wembanyama and rushed possessions as the Spurs tried to protect a shrinking lead. The combination of regression in the perimeter game and unforced errors fed the Knicks’ comeback momentum. By the final minutes, the scoreboard and the crowd had decisively swung back toward New York.
Anunoby’s defensive stop and game-winning tip
OG Anunoby produced two of the defining plays in the game’s final 11 seconds, first chasing down De’Aaron Fox on a transition chance and then rising to tip Jalen Brunson’s long rebound back into the rim. Anunoby’s chase-down denied what looked like a potential go-ahead layup, and his acrobatic tip produced the winning points that will be replayed for years. He finished with an all-around 33-point night, shooting 7-of-9 from three and taking on assignment defense against multiple Spurs threats.
Those plays underscored Anunoby’s versatility as a two-way impact player and highlighted the role that timely defense can play in championship basketball. His ability to guard the rim against the seven-foot-plus Wembanyama and switch onto quicker perimeter players late in the game proved decisive. For a player categorized often as a superstar ‘role’ figure, Game 4 offered two legacy-defining moments.
Brunson’s perseverance and Wembanyama’s tactical adjustments
Jalen Brunson delivered a game-high 36 points in a performance that mixed early scoring with crucial late-game buckets, including the driving floater that put New York ahead with 1:22 remaining. Brunson’s usage rose markedly against the Spurs’ pressure, and while his efficiency took some hits earlier in the series, he produced when the Knicks needed baskets most. His ability to draw Wembanyama away from the rim in small-lineup situations opened driving lanes and late scoring opportunities.
For San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama’s shot distribution emerged as a significant inflection point: heavier reliance on perimeter attempts contrasted with better team outcomes when he attacked the restricted area. Wembanyama also picked up a flagrant foul in the third quarter, adding to prior postseason transgressions and creating an accumulation risk that could trigger suspension should he incur another flagrant point. The foul history introduces a disciplinary subplot that could affect availability and strategy in coming games.
Turnovers, rebounding and series implications
Turnovers and rebounding swings were critical data points in Game 4, with New York reversing earlier trends and securing the offensive boards and extra possessions that fueled the comeback. The Spurs had enjoyed an early edge in offensive rebounds but were unable to convert misses late, while the Knicks’ second-chance opportunities included the decisive tip by Anunoby. Those small margins added up to a one-point final differential that belies the dramatic arc of the contest.
With the series standing at 3-1, San Antonio faces immediate pressure to win Game 5 at home to avoid elimination. New York will look to carry momentum and defensive intensity into the road matchup, while the Spurs must adjust shot selection and ball security to reclaim control. The next games will test each club’s ability to respond to adjustments and to manage both physical play and potential disciplinary consequences.
A single play often defines a playoff legacy, and in Game 4 the Knicks secured a defining moment that reshaped the series narrative and sent New York fans into euphoria.
