With 1.2 Seconds Left, the Knicks Move Within One Win of the Title After a Wild Finish

Last night, between Wednesday and Thursday, basketball fans were reminded why the NBA is the most fascinating league in the world. The New York Knicks earned a highly dramatic victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the Finals series and took a 3-1 lead on the way to the championship.

For long stretches, it appeared the series was about to be tied. The Spurs controlled the game and built a lead of as many as 29 points, including a 76-49 advantage at halftime and a 20-point lead during the fourth quarter. Then the comeback began. Led by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks gradually erased the deficit, with the guard delivering a huge performance of 36 points and 7 assists. Alongside him, OG Anunoby stood out, finishing with 33 points and scoring the night’s most important basket.

With 1.2 seconds remaining, after a missed shot by Brunson, Anunoby leaped for an offensive rebound and scored the putback that gave New York the dramatic win and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. On the other side, Victor Wembanyama opened the game strongly and led his team with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but struggled to make an impact in the decisive minutes. Dylan Harper also contributed 21 points, while Devin Vassell and De'Aaron Fox added 18 points each. Fox was involved in one of the critical final plays, when he missed an opportunity to secure the win for the Spurs in a sequence that ultimately led to Anunoby’s decisive basket.

The victory gives New York a 3-1 lead in the Finals and brings it closer to its first championship in more than five decades. The team now needs just one win in the three remaining games to complete the task and lift the championship trophy for the first time since 1973. Game 5 will be held in Texas, where the Spurs will try to force another game and keep their hopes alive in the series. For New York, meanwhile, this is an opportunity to take the final step toward one of the most memorable championships in the club’s history.