The New York Knicks authored one of the most improbable victories in NBA Finals history on Wednesday night, rallying from 29 points down to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 at Madison Square Garden. The stunning comeback gives the Knicks a 3-1 series lead and positions them within one victory of their first championship since 1973.
OG Anunoby delivered the decisive blow with 1.2 seconds remaining, tipping in a missed three-point attempt by Jalen Brunson to complete the historic rally. The comeback represents the largest deficit overcome in an NBA Finals game since the league began keeping detailed play-by-play statistics for all four quarters in 1997, surpassing the previous record of 24 points set by Boston against the Lakers in 2008.
The Spurs appeared to have complete control of the contest, building a commanding 81-52 lead in the third quarter. San Antonio dominated the first half, establishing a 27-point halftime advantage that represented the biggest halftime lead by a visiting team in Finals history. The young Spurs connected on 11 of their first 16 three-point attempts and led 57-32 during the opening half.
However, the second half belonged entirely to the Knicks. New York outscored San Antonio 58-30 after intermission, with the Spurs managing just three successful three-pointers on 17 attempts in the final two quarters. The defensive turnaround proved particularly effective in the third quarter, when the Knicks held the Spurs to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting while using a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 90-75 entering the fourth quarter.
Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, while Anunoby finished with 33 points in addition to his game-winning tip-in. The final sequence saw Brunson's long three-point attempt bounce softly off the front of the rim, allowing Anunoby to swoop in and stretch high with his right hand to tap the ball through the basket.
Knicks coach Mike Brown praised Anunoby's effort on the offensive glass. "I told OG as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he's got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight," Brown said. "I don't know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history of Knicks basketball."
For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds but struggled with his shooting efficiency, converting just nine of 25 field goal attempts. The French center also missed two critical free throws with 1:47 remaining and San Antonio leading 104-103, a sequence that would prove costly. Dylan Harper contributed 21 points for the Spurs, while De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each added 18 points.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson acknowledged his team's second-half struggles. "We got on our heels — we missed some shots," Johnson said. "It's disappointing, to say the least."
Wembanyama reflected on the collapse, stating, "I think it began before (the fourth quarter). I can't really explain it right now. I don't know. ... We clearly weren't the most hungry in the second half."
The victory continues a pattern of resilience for these Knicks, who previously erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit against Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. The team had its 13-game winning streak snapped in Game 3 of the Finals and appeared headed for a second consecutive defeat before mounting the historic rally.
The atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden reached a fever pitch as the comeback materialized, with delirious fans singing along to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" in the closing minutes. The game drew notable attendees, including Taylor Swift, though security restrictions remained in place around the arena following President Donald Trump's attendance at Game 3. Those restrictions prompted the Knicks to cancel plans for an outdoor watch party outside the building.
The series has featured an unusual pattern, with road teams winning the first three games before the Knicks finally protected home court in Game 4. This marked only the second time in Finals history that the visiting team won the first three contests.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio, where the Knicks will have their first opportunity to clinch the championship. If necessary, Game 6 would return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The Spurs face the daunting task of becoming the first team to overcome a 3-1 Finals deficit since the Cleveland Cavaliers accomplished the feat in 2016.
For historical context, only one playoff game on record featured a larger comeback than the Knicks' 29-point rally: the Los Angeles Clippers erased a 31-point deficit against Golden State in Game 2 of a first-round series in 2019. The Knicks' achievement Wednesday night now stands as the greatest comeback in the 79-year history of the NBA Finals.
