Knicks seize historic 3-1 NBA Finals lead with record-breaking comeback
New York defeats San Antonio 107-106 in Game 4, moving within one victory of their first championship in 53 years.
The New York Knicks have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead in the 2026 NBA Finals after overcoming a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4. The victory marks the largest comeback from behind 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.
The turnaround was driven by a second-half surge in which the Knicks outscored the Spurs 58-30. This effort followed a first half where San Antonio set an NBA Finals record by hitting 14 three-pointers. The magnitude of the halftime deficit placed New York in a historically difficult position, requiring a margin reversal larger than any team had ever achieved in the championship series.
OG Anunoby secured the victory with a game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining. The play occurred after Jalen Brunson missed a three-point attempt over the outstretched arms of Spurs defenders Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. Anunoby, who finished with a playoff career-high 33 points, crashed through the defense to snatch the offensive rebound and tip the ball home.
Coach Mike Brown described the play as "the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball." Prior to the game, Brown had instructed Anunoby, who had not recorded any offensive rebounds up to that point, to be aggressive on the offensive glass. The coach noted that the energy from high-profile attendees, including Fat Joe, contributed significantly to the team's momentum during the rally.
The Spurs' attempt to force overtime failed when rookie Dylan Harper threw a short lob pass to Stephon Castle, who fumbled the ball and failed to get a shot off. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds in the win, while Brunson added 36 points. The result leaves the Knicks one victory away from securing their first NBA championship since 1973.
