For nearly two quarters Wednesday night, the dream of ending a 53-year championship drought appeared to be slipping away from New York. By the final buzzer, Madison Square Garden had witnessed one of the most unforgettable moments in NBA history.
In a game that will forever be remembered as the “Miracle on 34th Street,” the New York Knicks erased a staggering 29-point deficit and completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, stunning the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 to seize a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
The dramatic victory was sealed when OG Anunoby crashed the glass and tipped in a missed three point attempt by Jalen Brunson with just 1.2 seconds remaining, sending the Garden crowd into a frenzy and putting the Knicks one win away from their first NBA championship since 1973.
What seemed impossible became reality. The Spurs dominated the first half, building a 27-point halftime advantage and appearing poised to even the series. San Antonio’s young stars looked unstoppable early, knocking down 11 of their first 16 three point attempts while silencing the Garden crowd. The visitors stretched their lead to 81-52 midway through the third quarter, their largest advantage of the night.
At that moment, history suggested the game was over. No team had ever overcome more than a 24-point deficit in an NBA Finals game since detailed play-by-play records began in 1997. The previous record belonged to the Boston Celtics, who rallied from 24 points down against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals.
The Knicks shattered that mark. Led by their relentless superstar captain, Brunson refused to let New York’s season-defining night slip away. The All-Star guard poured in 36 points and orchestrated a furious comeback that gradually transformed disbelief into hope.
Anunoby was equally brilliant, scoring 33 points while delivering the game-winning basket that will be replayed in New York sports history for generations.
The turnaround began in the third quarter when the Knicks’ defense finally found its footing. New York held San Antonio to just 14 points on 4-of-20 shooting in the period. A devastating 13-0 run cut into the deficit and energized a crowd that had spent much of the first half in stunned silence.
By the end of the third quarter, the Spurs’ once comfortable lead had been trimmed to 90-75.
The fourth quarter became a showcase of New York’s resilience.
These Knicks have made a habit of refusing to quit. They erased a 22-point fourth quarter deficit against Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals and displayed that same determination again on the NBA’s biggest stage.
San Antonio’s offense, so explosive early, completely cooled off. After hitting nearly everything in the opening half, the Spurs connected on just 3-of-17 three-pointers after intermission as New York outscored them 58-30 in the second half.
Even when it appeared the Knicks had finally completed the comeback, more drama awaited.
After New York briefly grabbed the lead late, rookie Stephon Castle was fouled and calmly converted two free throws with 30 seconds remaining, putting San Antonio back in front 106-105.
The Spurs were still in position to escape with a victory.
But Brunson had one final possession to create magic. With the clock winding down, he launched a deep three-pointer that bounced off the rim. Anunoby was perfectly positioned, soaring above the crowd of defenders and tipping the ball home with 1.2 seconds left to give New York its first lead since the opening minutes. Madison Square Garden erupted.
The Spurs had one final chance, but the Knicks held on to complete one of the most remarkable playoff comebacks ever witnessed.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds for San Antonio but endured a frustrating second half, shooting just 9-for-25 from the field. The Spurs superstar also missed two crucial free throws with 1:47 remaining and San Antonio leading 104-103, misses that proved costly in the final outcome.
Dylan Harper added 21 points for the Spurs, while De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each contributed 18.
The game featured plenty of physical play and emotion. Wembanyama was loudly booed during pregame warmups and became the focal point of several hard fouls throughout the contest. Mitchell Robinson was assessed a flagrant foul after making contact above Wembanyama’s shoulders, while Jose Alvarado was also reviewed following a low hit. Wembanyama himself was later assessed a flagrant foul during the heated matchup.
Road teams had won each of the first three games of the Finals, making this only the second championship series in league history to begin that way. The Spurs appeared destined to continue the trend before New York authored a comeback for the ages.
Now the Knicks stand on the doorstep of basketball immortality.
One victory separates New York from ending more than five decades of frustration and bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Madison Square Garden for the first time since the days of Walt Frazier and Willis Reed.
Game 5 shifts back to San Antonio on Saturday night, where the Spurs will attempt to regroup and force the series back to New York for a Game 6.
For now, however, the basketball world belongs to the Knicks and the unforgettable Miracle on 34th Street a comeback that rewrote NBA Finals history and moved New York within touching distance of a long awaited championship.
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