The New York Knicks were staring at disaster. Down by 29 points in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, facing the possibility of letting the San Antonio Spurs seize complete control of the series, Madison Square Garden was preparing for heartbreak.
Instead, it witnessed one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history.
A dramatic tip-in by OG Anunoby with 1.2 seconds remaining completed a stunning rally as the Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106 on Wednesday night, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals and moving within one victory of a championship.
For a franchise that has spent decades chasing another title, Game 4 instantly became part of New York sports mythology.
How the Knicks pulled off a historic NBA Finals comeback
At halftime, the outlook was bleak.
San Antonio had poured in 76 points in the first half and appeared to be cruising toward a series-tying victory. The Spurs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, while the Knicks looked overwhelmed by the moment.
The deficit eventually ballooned to 29 points, the largest comeback ever completed in NBA Finals history.
Yet New York never stopped fighting.
The Knicks slowly chipped away at the lead through defensive intensity, timely shooting, and a relentless effort that transformed the atmosphere inside Madison Square Garden.
By the fourth quarter, the impossible suddenly felt possible.
A second-half defensive masterclass
While much of the attention will focus on the game-winning basket, New York’s defense was equally responsible for the victory.
The Spurs scored:
- 76 points in the first half
- Just 30 points in the second half
That 46-point decline represents the largest scoring drop between halves in NBA postseason history.
San Antonio’s offense, which looked unstoppable early, struggled to generate quality looks as New York tightened its rotations and increased pressure across the floor.
The defensive turnaround gave the Knicks the opportunity they needed to complete their comeback.
OG Anunoby delivers the biggest play of his career
With the Knicks trailing by one point and only seconds remaining, everyone expected Jalen Brunson to take the final shot.
That part happened exactly as planned.
The ending did not.
Brunson’s jumper came up short, hitting the front rim. Before Spurs defenders could react, OG Anunoby soared above the crowd, grabbed the rebound in midair, and tipped the ball back into the basket with his right hand.
The ball dropped through the net with just 1.2 seconds remaining.
Madison Square Garden erupted.
San Antonio never managed to get off a final shot, sealing one of the most memorable victories in franchise history.
The game-winning basket wasn’t his only defining moment
Anunoby’s heroics extended beyond the winning tip-in.
Moments earlier, he delivered perhaps the most important defensive play of the game by chasing down De’Aaron Fox and blocking what appeared to be a potential game-clinching layup.
That block gave New York the possession that ultimately led to the winning basket.
In a game filled with dramatic swings, Anunoby influenced both ends of the floor when it mattered most.
Why Game 4 could define the Knicks’ championship run
Championship teams often have one game that becomes their defining moment.
For the 2026 Knicks, Game 4 may be that moment.
The victory showcased several qualities that title-winning teams typically possess:
- Resilience under pressure
- Defensive adaptability
- Star leadership
- Contributions from role players
- Confidence in hostile situations
Most importantly, the comeback reinforced a belief that has carried New York throughout the postseason.
As players celebrated on the court after the final buzzer, the word most frequently used inside the arena was simple: belief.
That belief transformed a seemingly lost game into a historic win.
Madison Square Garden witnesses another unforgettable night
Long after the final buzzer sounded, fans remained inside Madison Square Garden.
Nobody wanted to leave.
The crowd sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” as players celebrated on the court, creating a scene that instantly joined the long list of iconic moments in the building’s history.
For a fan base that has endured years of disappointment, the atmosphere felt less like a playoff victory and more like the celebration of a breakthrough.
The Knicks have not finished the job yet.
But they are closer than they have been in generations.
What happens next?
The series now shifts back to San Antonio with the Knicks holding a 3-1 advantage.
Historically, teams that take a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals are overwhelmingly likely to win the championship.
The Spurs still have an opportunity to extend the series, but the pressure now rests squarely on San Antonio.
New York, meanwhile, needs just one more victory to complete an extraordinary postseason run and capture what would be one of the most celebrated championships in franchise history.
Why this comeback will be remembered
Every championship run produces memorable moments.
Few produce moments this dramatic.
A 29-point deficit. A roaring Madison Square Garden. A desperate final possession. A missed shot. A perfectly timed tip-in.
The combination of circumstance, stakes, and execution turned Game 4 into more than just another playoff victory.
It became a defining chapter in Knicks history.
Whether the Knicks complete their championship journey or not, OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in and New York’s record-setting comeback have already secured a place among the greatest moments the NBA Finals has ever seen.
TL;DR
- The Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
- New York erased a 29-point deficit, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
- OG Anunoby scored the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.
- Anunoby also recorded a crucial late-game block on De’Aaron Fox.
- San Antonio scored 76 first-half points but only 30 after halftime.
- The Knicks now lead the NBA Finals 3-1 and are one win away from a championship.
