As the San Antonio Spurs led by 29 points with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter, many people thought that Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals was all but over.
By the end of the first quarter, the New York Knicks had given up a whopping 41 points to the Spurs, and by the end of the first half, the Spurs had scored 76 points. New York, meanwhile, sat at 49, frankly abysmal compared to their opponents, who had seemingly run away with the game before the second half had even started.
This was further cemented by the end of the third quarter, when the Knicks found themselves down 90-75. However, the following 12 minutes of basketball went in favor of New York, resulting in a bounce-back victory for the Knicks and the largest comeback win in NBA Finals history.
So what worked well for the Knicks? What can they do to win Game 5? Where did the Spurs fail?
Knicks’ Historic Comeback Puts Them On The Brink Of An NBA Title
KAT’s Game 5 Performance Will Be Key
Just a minute into the game, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fouls, which led head coach Mike Brown to sub him out. Towns was key to defending Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama in games 1 and 2 despite his lackluster performance in Game 3.
His absence was felt by the team throughout the first half. New York chose to substitute him for Knicks big men Ariel Hukporti and Mitchell Robinson, and even Knicks forward Jeremy Sochan, during certain parts of the game.
Towns’ offensive impact in Game 4 was limited, scoring just 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and two assists. He did, however, have ten rebounds.
Towns’ contributions have been vital to this Knicks team in the playoffs. Rather than using him as a traditional stretch big, Towns has also grown as a secondary playmaker next to star guard Jalen Brunson. This has opened up a new facet of Towns’ offensive game and led to a bigger role with the Knicks.
Going into Game 5, Towns will have to tread the fine line between fouling and playing physically to wear down Wembanyama. Ranked as the most likely player to win Finals MVP, Towns will have an important role to play in Game 5.
Experience And A Late Game Explosion
A large part of New York’s comeback was fueled by Brunson and OG Anunoby catching fire in the second half. Brunson ended the game with 36 points, with 17 coming in the second half. Anunoby, on the other hand, finished with 33 points, including 19 in the second half with the game-winning tip-in layup. He also went 7-of-9 from the 3-point range, doing most of his perimeter work in the final 24 minutes.
OG ANUNOBY WITH THE PUTBACK.
KNICKS COMPLETE THE 29-PT COMEBACK FOR THE WIN.
LARGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZtWVWY6JsR
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026
This series has highlighted how big a role experience plays on basketball’s biggest stage. Game 2 and Game 4 have both been decided by a single point. Wembanyama’s mistimed pass to Spurs guard Stephon Castle in Game 2 led to Brunson stealing the ball and drawing a foul, giving the Knicks the lead at the free-throw line.
In Game 4, the blunder was by veteran Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox, who went up for a layup with 13 seconds remaining after the shot clock was turned off. The field goal attempt was promptly swatted away by Anunoby, and the Spurs were forced to foul Knicks guard Jose Alvarado with just 5.7 seconds to go.
Going into Game 5, the Knicks have a chance to end this surprisingly close series and bring New York the championship ring that it has been seeking for the past 53 years. However, New York will have to maintain their poise in Game 5 and will have to stay wary of the Spurs’ tendency to score in bunches.
The pressure to win Game 5 will be shouldered not only by Brunson and Towns, but also by the rest of New York’s veterans. Despite not playing due to injuries, Anunoby won a championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors, who took down a battered and bruised Golden State Warriors team looking to three-peat.
Knicks forward Mikal Bridges will have to show up in Game 5 after an abysmal Game 4 performance of just seven points in 28 minutes. Knicks guard Josh Hart‘s basketball IQ, as well as defense, hustle, and an occasional three-pointer, are key aspects of this New York team’s identity. Lastly, Landry Shamet and Miles McBride have had good showings over the course of these playoffs for New York; they notably shine off the bench when Brunson is off the floor.
A Historic Offensive Collapse
The Spurs’ downfall came in the second half, when the team went ice cold on offense.
While the Spurs made 28 of their 47 field goal attempts in the first half, the team as a whole had just eight made field goals in the entire second half. The Spurs combined for 30 total points in the second half, after scoring 76 points in the first half. The Knicks, for reference, scored 32 fourth-quarter points to take Game 4.
San Antonio’s defenders were frequently out of position throughout Game 4. While their explosive offense hid this fact during the first half, this lack of defensive discipline allowed the Knicks to come back from the dead.
The Spurs’ players were more focused on watching the ball than having their attention solely on their assignments on defense, which led to New York being able to get open shots from all over the floor. Wembanyama did not fully commit to a double team or trap in one of the corners of the floor, opting to drift back instead, which left the Knicks to make a three-pointer or mid-range shot. Additionally, these partially executed double teams led to the Spurs not effectively closing out or switching, which made it so that New York was always one pass ahead of San Antonio.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson had this to say in the post-game interview, amid loud cheers from the New York faithful.
“We got away from what got us the 76 points in the first half, just in terms of putting pressure on the rim. Rolling after screens, running after continuing to find the paint, whether it’s for ourselves or for a teammate. We got on our heels, and missed some shots, and you don’t get as many free throws or high percentage looks when you play on your heels like that.”
Last Word On Knicks vs Spurs Game 4
Defensively, the Spurs have clear aims to focus on in Game 5, that being sticking to their assignments and not allowing any easy looks for New York. Wembanyama and the second player who goes for traps and double teams need to communicate better with each other and the rest of the team to force turnovers from the Knicks.
Offensively, the Spurs have almost always taken a lead early on in the game, and it will be vital for them to ensure that they have the same momentum in the later stages of the game.
New York, on the other hand, will have to rely on their veteran players and proven tactics to slow down Wembanyama in Game 5. While it will be up to the starters to seal the deal, the Knicks will need assistance from their surprisingly deep bench if they want a comfortable win in Game 5.
For a lot of teams, New York’s Game 4 win would have been the nail in the coffin. Will the same hold for the Spurs, or will San Antonio bounce back to take Game 5?
Featured Image: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
