The Knicks' UNBELIEVABLE Comeback STUNS Gil's Arena
YouTube · Tgy7yKRFCec
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Knicks' 29-point comeback is the largest in NBA Finals history, showcasing their 'refuse to lose' mentality.
- ❖Spurs' second-half collapse was attributed to poor coaching adjustments and critical late-game errors by key players like De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama.
- ❖OG Anunoby's outstanding two-way performance, including a game-winning tip-in and a pivotal block, made him a strong Finals MVP contender.
Insights
1Knicks' Historic 29-Point Comeback
The New York Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit, the largest in NBA Finals history, to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4. This comeback was fueled by a dominant second-half performance where they outscored the Spurs significantly, especially in the third and fourth quarters.
Spurs led by 29 points in the second quarter and 20 points early in the fourth. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 26-14 in the third quarter and had a 20-4 run in the fourth.
2Spurs' Record-Setting First Half Followed by Collapse
The Spurs started Game 4 with record-breaking offensive efficiency, hitting 14 threes in the first half (a Finals record) and scoring 76 points, the most by a road team in Finals history. However, they dramatically cooled off, scoring only 14 points in the third quarter and struggling significantly in the fourth.
Spurs shot 60% from the field and 54% from three in the first half, but were held to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third period and 2-for-11 shooting in the final nine minutes.
3OG Anunoby's Clutch Performance and MVP Candidacy
OG Anunoby delivered a playoff career-high 33 points, including 7-for-9 from three-point range, and made the game-winning tip-in. He also had a critical chase-down block on De'Aaron Fox, solidifying his impact on both ends of the floor and making a strong case for Finals MVP.
Anunoby scored 33 points (10-for-15 FG, 7-for-9 3PT), had the game-winning tip-in, and blocked De'Aaron Fox's potential game-winning layup attempt. He is averaging 24 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks on 58/56/92 shooting splits for the series.
4De'Aaron Fox's Late-Game Blunders
De'Aaron Fox made several critical errors in the fourth quarter, most notably attempting a layup instead of dribbling out the clock and forcing a foul with the Spurs up by one point in the final seconds. This decision led to OG Anunoby's game-winning block.
Fox tipped the ball to himself, drove for a layup, and was blocked by OG Anunoby. Fox admitted post-game, 'I just thought I'd be able to outrun him.'
5Wemby's Struggles in the Clutch
Victor Wembanyama, despite leading the Spurs with 24 points and 13 rebounds, struggled significantly in the second half and clutch moments. He shot 3-for-14 in the second half, missed two crucial free throws with 1:47 left, and had zero defensive rebounds and zero blocks in the second half.
Wembanyama missed two free throws with remaining, shot 3-for-14 in the second half, and 1-for-4 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. He had zero defensive rebounds and zero blocks in the second half.
6Mike Brown's Coaching Masterstroke with Jose Alvarado
Knicks coach Mike Brown made a 'gutsy' and 'shrewd' decision to insert Jose Alvarado into the game for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, despite Alvarado and Brunson never having played together. Alvarado responded by making all three of his shots, including two crucial threes, acting as a catalyst for the comeback.
Alvarado played 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, made all three of his shots (including two threes), and was a +11. This was the first time he and Brunson had played together in their NBA careers.
7Knicks' Playoff Resilience is a Trend
This 29-point comeback is not an isolated incident for the Knicks. They now have five 20-point comeback wins in the last two playoffs, holding a 5-3 record when trailing by 20 points, compared to the rest of the NBA's combined 4-71 record in such situations.
The Knicks have five 20-point comeback wins in the last two playoffs and are 5-3 when trailing by 20 points in the last two postseasons. They also came back from 22 points down against the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Lessons
- Coaches must be prepared to make unconventional adjustments (e.g., playing untested lineups) when facing large deficits or struggling to maintain leads in high-stakes games.
- Players, especially point guards, need to prioritize game management (dribbling out the clock, forcing fouls) over hero-ball plays in critical late-game situations, regardless of their confidence in making a shot.
- Teams with significant leads must maintain offensive aggression and defensive intensity, avoiding complacency or premature 'playing not to lose' mindsets that can lead to historic collapses.
Quotes
"We're resilient, you know. We never give up. You know, it's a game of runs. They went on our run early. We knew we were going to go on our own runs, so we just stay with it. Kept pushing."
"What's going through my mind right now? I think it's going to go one of two ways. One of two ways. And a bad one and a good one. And I know the bad one would be giving up. The good one would be getting stronger through this. Getting more together. And I know this is what we're going to do."
"The gutsiest, shrewdest coaching move I've ever seen in a finals game was with Jose Alvarado because you just don't do that. You can't do that. To Nick's point, they'd never played together one minute of their NBA lives and you throw him out there for 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and guess what? Did he ever make you look genius?"
"I don't say that the Knicks took this game. You It was given to you because we didn't make you work on defense while we're up 25. We didn't make every possession count."
"Time is your friend. You just seen Wimby trick off two humongous free throws. You get fouled, you up, you up. You're like down."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes

The Pat McAfee Show Live | Progrum Feud Thursday, June 11th 2026
"This episode covers the New York Knicks' historic NBA Finals comeback, the ongoing NHL Stanley Cup Finals, major NFL contract news for Patrick Mahomes and Sean Payton, and features a high-stakes 'Program Feud' game show."

Unc, Ocho & Iso Joe react to Brunson & Knicks edging Wemby & Spurs to go up 2-0 in Finals | Nightcap
"The New York Knicks, fueled by veteran experience and Carl Anthony Towns' dominant two-way play, took a commanding 2-0 lead over the inexperienced San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, highlighting the Spurs' critical turnover issues and questionable late-game decision-making."

Wemby & The Spurs PROVED They're Ready For The Moment
"The San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama's adjusted play and the team's resilience, secured a critical Game 3 victory against the New York Knicks, who succumbed to the immense pressure of playing at Madison Square Garden."

Rashad TRIGGERS The Arena After The Knicks Game 1 WIN
"The Gil's Arena panel dissects the Knicks' Game 1 victory over the Spurs, highlighting Jalen Brunson's clutch performance and Karl-Anthony Towns' surprising defensive impact on Victor Wembanyama, while debating coaching decisions and player roles."