Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) embraces forward OG Anunoby after Anunoby's unworldly tip-in gave the Knicks the lead with 1.2 seconds to go in Tuesday night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) embraces forward OG Anunoby after Anunoby's unworldly tip-in gave the Knicks the lead with 1.2 seconds to go in Tuesday night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
NEW YORK — The Knicks made a record comeback from 29 points down and moved to the brink of their first championship since 1973 by beating the Spurs, 107-106, Wednesday night.
OG Anunoby tipped in the miss of Jalen Brunson’s long 3-point attempt with 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the rally, giving the Knicks a 3-1 lead and three chances to win the championship.
“Do what it takes to win … I just tried to make a play," said Anunoby.
It looked impossible early, when the Spurs rolled to a 27-point halftime lead. But Brunson helped bring the Knicks back with 36 points, and Anunoby finished with 33.
Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio.
No team had come from more than 24 points down in a finals game, when Boston did it against the Lakers in 2008, since the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play for all four quarters in 1997. The Spurs pushed their lead to 81-52 in the third quarter.
The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak snapped in Game 3 and seemed headed for a second straight defeat throughout the first half, when Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs opened the biggest NBA Finals halftime lead by a visiting team.
But the young Spurs, who made 11 of their first 16 3-pointers, went cold in the second half, going 3 for 17 behind the arc as the Knicks outscored them, 58-30.
Delirious fans inside Madison Square Garden sang along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” a few minutes after watching something that seemed almost impossible.
Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 9 for 25 from the field.