Key facts
- The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
- The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit, their largest comeback in franchise history.
- OG Anunoby scored the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.
- Jalen Brunson scored 36 points and Anunoby added 33 for the Knicks.
- The Knicks now lead the series 3-1, with three chances to win the championship.
The San Antonio Spurs have joined a storied list of teams that have experienced dramatic collapses in sports history, following their 107-106 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Knicks, trailing by 29 points, mounted the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, capped by OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, and Anunoby added 33.
The Knicks' stunning victory gives them a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, with three opportunities to clinch their first NBA title since 1973. This collapse echoes other memorable meltdowns across various sports.
In American football, the Atlanta Falcons famously led the New England Patriots 28-3 in Super Bowl 51 before Tom Brady orchestrated a 25-point comeback, forcing overtime and securing a Patriots victory. In college basketball, Northern Iowa led Texas A&M by 12 points with less than a minute left in a 2016 NCAA Tournament game, only to lose in double overtime after committing multiple turnovers.
Golf has also witnessed significant collapses. Jordan Spieth squandered a five-shot lead on the back nine at the 2016 Masters, including a quadruple-bogey on the 12th hole. Greg Norman similarly faltered at the 1996 Masters, losing a six-shot lead in the final round. Jean van de Velde also experienced a late-round collapse at the 1999 Open Championship, entering the 18th hole with a three-stroke lead but ending up in a playoff.
Basketball has seen its share of dramatic turnarounds, including the New York Knicks' own history. In 1995, Reggie Miller scored eight points in nine seconds to lead the Indiana Pacers to a stunning comeback victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Baseball's 2004 ALCS saw the Boston Red Sox rally from a 3-0 series deficit against the New York Yankees, culminating in David Ortiz's walk-off home run and a historic World Series win.
In hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs became the first team in North American sports history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final. The Buffalo Bills also achieved a remarkable comeback in 1993, rallying from a 35-3 deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Houston Oilers in overtime.