The New York Knicks delivered one of the most unforgettable performances in NBA Finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 and move within one win of the championship.
With the victory, New York took a commanding 3-1 lead in the 2026 NBA Finals and set a new record for the largest comeback ever seen on the league’s biggest stage. Just a day earlier, this Game 4 looked like the real swing of the series โ instead it became an instant classic.
At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks looked finished for long stretches of the night. The Spurs controlled the game early, built a huge lead, and appeared ready to send the series into a dramatic 2-2 deadlock. Instead, the second half became a showcase of resilience, pressure defense, and championship-level shot-making from a Knicks team that refused to break.
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How the Knicks Pulled Off the Largest Comeback in NBA Finals History
New York trailed by as many as 29 points before storming back in the second half, outscoring San Antonio 58-30 after halftime to flip the entire game. That rally is now officially the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, surpassing the previous record of 24 points set by the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 Finals.
The Knicks’ comeback was not built on one hot shooting stretch alone. It came from repeated stops, transition opportunities, second-chance effort, and a refusal to let the Spurs settle into their offensive rhythm in the second half. As the deficit shrank, the pressure shifted fully onto San Antonio, and the Garden crowd became a major factor in every possession.
By the final minute, Game 4 had transformed from a blowout into an all-time classic. The Knicks had dragged the Spurs into a one-possession finish, and suddenly every rebound, drive, and rotation carried championship-level weight.
OG Anunoby’s Tip-In Completes the Miracle
The defining moment came in the closing seconds. After the Spurs failed to finish the game at the rim, Jalen Brunson took a late shot that missed, but OG Anunoby crashed the paint and tipped it in with 1.2 seconds remaining to give New York the 107-106 lead. That sequence completed the comeback and instantly gave the Knicks one of the signature plays in franchise history.
Brunson finished with 36 points, while Anunoby added 33 points in a star-level performance at both ends of the floor. Their scoring and late-game composure carried New York through the final stretch, but the win was equally about collective belief and defensive intensity after halftime.
For the Spurs, the collapse was brutal. San Antonio had controlled the game for most of the night, yet could not hold off New York’s momentum once the Knicks found pace, stops, and confidence in the second half โ a far cry from the Wembanyama-led Game 3 surge that had swung the early narrative their way.
Why This Win Means More for the Knicks
This result was bigger than one game. The Knicks are now up 3-1 in the Finals and stand one win away from ending a championship drought that dates back to 1973. For a franchise that has spent decades chasing another title, Game 4 felt like the kind of win that changes how a season is remembered forever.
New York has won championships before, but not recently. The franchise’s only two NBA titles came in 1970 and 1973, and while the Knicks returned to the Finals in 1994 and 1999, they fell short both times. That history gives this current run an even deeper emotional weight for the organization and its fan base.
Game 4 also reinforced a pattern that has defined the Knicks throughout these playoffs: they have repeatedly shown the ability to rally from double-digit deficits and win high-pressure games late. This time, however, the stakes were greater and the stage was larger, which is why the 29-point rally immediately entered Finals lore.
On This Day in 1999: Another Defining Knicks Chapter
The timing made the story even richer. On June 11, 1999, the Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 90-82 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to win the series 4-2 and become the first No. 8 seed in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals.
That 1999 team remains one of the most beloved groups in franchise history. Allan Houston scored 32 points in the clinching win over Indiana, while Latrell Sprewell added 20, giving the duo a combined 52 points in one of the signature playoff wins of the Knicks’ modern era. The run eventually ended in the Finals against the Spurs, but the achievement of reaching the championship round as an eighth seed remains one of the most improbable accomplishments in NBA playoff history.
That is why the 2026 comeback feels larger than a single box score. It connects two generations of Knicks history: the 1999 underdogs who shocked the league, and the 2026 group that rewrote the Finals record book with a comeback no team had ever completed before.
Game 4 Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | NBA Finals Game 4 |
| Matchup | New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs |
| Final Score | Knicks 107, Spurs 106 |
| Largest Deficit | Knicks trailed by 29 points |
| Historic Record | Largest comeback in NBA Finals history |
| Second-Half Margin | Knicks outscored Spurs 58-30 after halftime |
| Series Score | Knicks lead the NBA Finals 3-1 |
| Winning Play | OG Anunoby tip-in with 1.2 seconds left |
| Knicks Top Scorers | Jalen Brunson 36 points; OG Anunoby 33 points |
| Championship Context | New York is one win away from its first NBA title since 1973 |
Knicks Finals History and Major Milestones
| Year | Stage | Opponent | Result / Historical Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | NBA Finals | Los Angeles Lakers | Knicks won the championship, earning the first title in franchise history. |
| 1973 | NBA Finals | Los Angeles Lakers | Knicks won their second and most recent NBA championship. |
| 1994 | NBA Finals | Houston Rockets | Knicks lost in seven games after a hard-fought Finals series. |
| 1999 | Eastern Conference Finals | Indiana Pacers | Knicks won 4-2 and became the first No. 8 seed to reach the NBA Finals. |
| 1999 | NBA Finals | San Antonio Spurs | The 8th-seeded Knicks’ Cinderella run ended against the Spurs. |
| 2026 | NBA Finals Game 4 | San Antonio Spurs | Knicks erased a 29-point deficit, won 107-106, and set the new record for the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. |
What the 3-1 Lead Means for Game 5 Betting
A 3-1 Finals lead changes the entire market. New York can close out the title in Game 5, and the Spurs now face elimination needing three straight wins โ a scenario only one team in Finals history has ever survived. That backdrop usually compresses the series price toward the Knicks while keeping single-game lines more competitive than the narrative suggests.
For Filipino bettors watching the closeout, the markets worth a look (all lines need platform confirmation) include the Game 5 spread, the series price now that New York is one win away, and player props around Brunson points and Anunoby’s two-way production. As Game 4 proved, this series swings violently within games โ which is exactly why live betting through these NBA swings and the Game 4 prop trends are worth studying before committing. Watch the early shooting and foul counts before you lean on any number.
As always, treat this as entertainment, bet only what you can afford to lose, and shop for the best available number. If betting stops being fun, take a break.
FAQ
What record did the Knicks set in Game 4?
The Knicks set the record for the largest comeback in NBA Finals history by rallying from 29 points down to beat the Spurs 107-106, surpassing the previous mark of 24 points.
Who hit the game-winning shot for the Knicks?
OG Anunoby scored the decisive basket on a tip-in with 1.2 seconds left after a missed shot by Jalen Brunson.
How many points did Jalen Brunson score in Game 4?
Jalen Brunson scored 36 points in the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Spurs, while OG Anunoby added 33.
Why is June 11 important in Knicks history?
On June 11, 1999, the Knicks beat the Pacers 90-82 to become the first No. 8 seed in NBA history to reach the NBA Finals.
How close are the Knicks to winning the championship?
After winning Game 4, the Knicks lead the Finals 3-1 and are one victory away from their first NBA championship since 1973.
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