San Antonio Spurs’ 29-Point NBA Finals Lead Collapses in Historic Knicks Comeback
The San Antonio Spurs squandered a 29-point lead in the NBA Finals, allowing the New York Knicks to stage the largest comeback in league history with a 107-106 overtime victory, according to ESPN and NBA.com. The collapse, which unfolded in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, saw the Knicks overtake the Spurs after trailing 81-52 in the third quarter, with De’Aaron Fox’s final-second layup attempt proving pivotal.
What led to the Spurs’ collapse?
The Spurs built a 29-point lead by halftime, outscoring the Knicks 76-30, but their second-half performance disintegrated. San Antonio scored just 30 points after the break, with coach Mitch Johnson citing a loss of “aggressiveness and conviction” in the second half. “We got away from what got us the 76 points in the first half,” Johnson said, per The Athletic.
The Knicks chipped away at the deficit, with Jalen Brunson scoring 31 points and OG Anunoby blocking Fox’s final attempt. “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half,” said Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, according to Reuters. “Stopped moving the ball. Stopped executing.”
How did the Knicks execute the comeback?
New York’s comeback hinged on defensive intensity and clutch plays. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 55-29 in the fourth quarter, with Brunson hitting a game-tying three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left. Anunoby then tipped in the winning shot, completing the 107-106 victory. The Knicks’ 29-point deficit was the largest in NBA Finals history to be overcome, according to NBA.com.
Coach Tom Thibodeau credited his team’s resilience. “We believed in each other,” Thibodeau said, per ESPN. “That’s what champions do.”
Why was Fox’s play criticized?
De’Aaron Fox’s decision to attack the rim instead of forcing a foul in the final seconds drew sharp criticism. “That was a dumbass play,” said Charles Barkley on TNT’s post-game show, per Bleacher Report. “He did not have to shoot that ball.”
Fox defended his choice, stating, “I just thought I’d be able to outrun them.” However, the play allowed the Knicks to retain possession, leading to Anunoby’s game-winning tip. “We had a chance to close it out,” Fox said, according to The New York Times. “We didn’t finish.”
What does this mean for the series?
The loss put the Knicks up 3-1 in the series, with the Spurs now facing a 53-year championship drought. “Going down 3-1 is obviously very different,” Fox said. “But we feel like we have a team to be able to come back from this.”
Historically, teams trailing 3-1 in the NBA Finals have a 12.3% chance of winning, according to ESPN. The Spurs’ ability to regroup will depend on their execution and the Knicks’ continued momentum.