The San Antonio Spurs’ dominant first half unraveled during a disastrous third quarter in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. After leading by as many as 29 points, the Spurs stalled offensively as New York clawed back at Madison Square Garden, cutting the deficit to 15 entering the fourth quarter.
Yahoo Sports' Dan Devine took to X, formerly Twitter, highlighting the defining statistic from the quarter that helped fuel the Knicks' comeback and dramatically shift momentum entering the final period.
“Spurs had more turnovers (five) than made field goals (four) in the third quarter.”
Spurs had more turnovers (five) than made field goals (four) in the third quarter.
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 11, 2026
The statistic captured the extent of San Antonio's offensive struggles after halftime. During the third quarter, the Spurs shot 4-for-20 from the field while committing five turnovers, allowing New York to erase a significant portion of what had been a 27-point halftime deficit.
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Before the downturn, the Spurs appeared firmly in control after building a lead that grew to as many as 29 points. Instead, the Spurs' execution deteriorated as New York increased its defensive pressure and generated momentum in front of a home crowd at Madison Square Garden.
The third-quarter collapse transformed what looked like a comfortable Spurs victory into a tense fourth-quarter battle. By the six-minute mark of the final period, New York had cut the deficit to single digits, continuing the comeback sparked by San Antonio's struggles coming out of halftime.
The shift also came after a halftime atmosphere that featured a performance by Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man, who energized the crowd before play resumed.
With the outcome still undecided and San Antonio’s lead down to just four points in the fourth quarter, the Spurs’ five turnovers and four made field goals in the third stood as the defining stat behind the Knicks’ stunning comeback push.
The San Antonio Spurs’ dominant first half unraveled during a disastrous third quarter in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. After leading by as many as 29 points, the Spurs stalled offensively as New York clawed back at Madison Square Garden, cutting the deficit to 15 entering the fourth quarter.