NEW YORK — In a game for the ages at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday night, rallying from a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106.
The victory gives the Knicks a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, putting them just one win away from their first NBA championship since 1973.
The Defining Moment
With only 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock, forward OG Anunoby delivered the deciding play. After inbounding the ball, Anunoby hustled to retrieve a missed three-point attempt, tapping the ball into the basket to secure the lead. Knicks coach Mike Brown hailed the play as "the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball."
A Star-Studded Atmosphere
The energy in Madison Square Garden was palpable, with a crowd featuring high-profile celebrities including Taylor Swift, Timothee Chalamet, and longtime super-fan Spike Lee. Swift, spotted wearing a "Stevie Knicks" shirt, was seen celebrating exuberantly as the final buzzer sounded. The intensity of the moment was reflected across the city, with Mayor Zohran Mamdani taking to social media to express the collective disbelief of New Yorkers.
Historic Stakes
This series represents a monumental shift for the franchise, which had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999. The city has been swept up in "Knicks fever," with iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building and the New York Public Library dressed in team colors.
For fans who were too young to remember the 1999 run, this season has been an introduction to the intensity of championship-level basketball. The Knicks now head to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday night. While the momentum is firmly with New York, the Spurs remain a formidable opponent, and the series remains active until one team reaches four wins.
