OG Anunoby cemented his place in New York Knicks lore on Wednesday night, tipping in a missed Jalen Brunson 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to stun the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 at Madison Square Garden, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead and moving within one win of their first NBA championship since 1973.
"That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball," Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. The play unfolded as Brunson's deep triple from the left wing bounced off the front rim, and Anunoby soared in from the right side, extending his right hand to softly redirect the ball through the net.
How the Historic Comeback Unfolded: Inside the Knicks' Rally
The San Antonio Spurs dominated the first half, building a 27-point halftime lead behind Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. The Spurs pushed the lead to 81-52 with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter — a 29-point margin that had the Madison Square Garden crowd silenced and the game seemingly out of reach.
No team had come back from more than 24 points down in an NBA Finals game since detailed play-by-play tracking began in 1997, when the Boston Celtics rallied against the Lakers in 2008. The only bigger comeback in any playoff game was 31 points by the LA Clippers against Golden State in 2019.
"You look at it when you're down 29 of, 'OK, let's get it to 20.' There's three minutes left in the third quarter, we're down 18, you're thinking, 'Let's get it to 10,'" forward Josh Hart said. "In the fourth quarter, you're like, this is winning time. Anything can happen."
And anything did. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 26-14 in the third quarter and 32-16 in the fourth, culminating in Anunoby's game-winner. Anunoby finished with a playoff-high 33 points on an impossibly efficient 10-of-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. Brunson led all scorers with 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting.
"We're a resilient group. We've been through a lot," Anunoby said postgame. "We've come back plenty of times when we're behind. Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated."
Timeline: How the Knicks Completed the Greatest Finals Comeback
First Quarter (Spurs 41, Knicks 22): San Antonio exploded out of the gate, with De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama combining for 23 points. The Knicks shot just 38% from the field and turned the ball over 5 times.
Second Quarter (Spurs 35, Knicks 27): The Spurs extended their lead with a devastating 12-2 run midway through the period. At halftime, San Antonio led 76-49 — a 27-point advantage that felt insurmountable.
Third Quarter (Knicks 26, Spurs 14): The tide began to turn. Brunson scored 11 points in the quarter, and the Knicks defense held the Spurs to just 14 points, cutting the deficit to 90-75 entering the final frame. The crowd at Madison Square Garden began to believe.
Fourth Quarter (Knicks 32, Spurs 16): New York opened the quarter on a 15-4 run, trimming the lead to four points with 6:25 remaining. Anunoby drilled two clutch three-pointers during the stretch. With 2:14 left, Brunson tied the game at 104-104 on a driving layup. After a Spurs basket, Brunson missed a deep triple, but Anunoby crashed the glass for the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds left. Stephon Castle's potential game-winner at the buzzer rimmed out.
Why This Moment Matters: Expert Analysis and Impact
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns described Anunoby's game-winner with a fittingly spiritual phrase: "Right hand from God." The moment immediately entered the pantheon of iconic Knicks moments alongside Willis Reed's Game 7 entrance in 1970 and Larry Johnson's four-point play in 1999.
Anunoby's performance was not limited to the final play. He also delivered a critical block on the defensive end on the possession preceding his game-winner, showcasing the two-way dominance that has defined his playoff run. The 28-year-old forward from London, England, signed a five-year, $212.5 million contract with the Knicks in 2024 and has been a cornerstone of the franchise's resurgence.
After the game, the NBA released its updated Finals MVP Ladder, with Anunoby leaping to the No. 1 spot. Through four games, he's averaging 25.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shooting 52% from three-point range in the series.
The comeback also represents something larger — the end of a decades-long drought for a franchise that had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and had not won a championship since 1973. The Knicks, who entered the season as title contenders after acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns and re-signing Anunoby, are now on the cusp of basketball immortality.
Where Things Stand Now: Latest on the NBA Finals
The Knicks hold a 3-1 series lead and have three opportunities to close out the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday night in San Antonio. The Knicks have not won a championship in 53 years — the longest active drought in the NBA.
The Spurs, meanwhile, face an elimination game for the first time this postseason. San Antonio entered the Finals as slight favorites after a 62-20 regular season, but have been outplayed by a determined Knicks squad that has won three straight since dropping Game 1.
"We've got a lot of fight in us," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the loss. "We let one slip away, but the series isn't over."
What Happens Next: The Road Ahead for the Knicks and Spurs
Game 5 in San Antonio presents a unique challenge for the Knicks — closing out a championship on the road against a formidable Spurs team that will be desperate to extend the series. If the Knicks fail to win Saturday, Game 6 would be back at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, with a potential Game 7 in San Antonio on Thursday.
History favors the Knicks: teams holding a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the championship 34 of 36 times (94.4%). The two teams that came back from 3-1 down were the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2006 Miami Heat.
Anunoby, ever understated, was asked about potentially winning the championship. "It feels cool," he said with a smile that spoke volumes.
Key Takeaways: Everything You Need to Know
- The Knicks erased a 29-point deficit — the largest comeback in NBA Finals history — to win Game 4, 107-106
- OG Anunoby scored 33 points and hit the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds left
- Anunoby also delivered a game-saving block on the prior defensive possession
- He shot 10-of-15 from the field and 7-of-9 from three-point range
- Jalen Brunson added 36 points in the comeback effort
- The Knicks lead the series 3-1 and need one more win for their first title since 1973
- Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio
- Mike Brown called Anunoby's shot "the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball"
