Spurs’ 29-Point Lead Vanishes as Knicks Take 3-1 NBA Finals Edge
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The San Antonio Spurs squandered a 29-point third-quarter cushion and fell 113-112 to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, marking the largest collapse in NBA Finals history and leaving the Western champions down 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
San Antonio appeared in complete control early, drilling a Finals-record 14 three-pointers in the first quarter and carrying a 76-49 advantage into halftime. Over the opening two periods the Spurs posted 18 assists against just two turnovers. The second half told a different story: they missed 31 of 39 shots, produced only six assists, and committed nine turnovers while being outscored by 30.
Players, coach search for answers
“We went away from everything we were doing,” rookie guard Dylan Harper said. “We just can’t take our foot off the gas.”
Center Victor Wembanyama called the setback “painful,” forward Keldon Johnson labeled it “a tough pill to swallow,” and head coach Mitch Johnson described it as “disappointing to say the least.” Despite the deficit, Wembanyama insisted the team will keep fighting: “It’s going to go one of two ways … the bad one would be giving up. The good one would be getting stronger through this.”
Fox’s late miscue proves costly
With San Antonio up one and the shot clock off, guard De’Aaron Fox chose to attack the rim following a Spurs steal instead of running time off the clock. OG Anunoby blocked the layup attempt, the Knicks secured possession, and Anunoby tipped in the game-winner seconds later. “I thought I’d be able to outrun him,” Fox said. “OG made a good block.”
Wembanyama nears suspension threshold
The NBA declined to upgrade Wembanyama’s shove of Jalen Brunson in Game 3 to a flagrant foul, but the rookie was whistled for a flagrant-1 elbow on Karl-Anthony Towns in Game 4. He now has three flagrant points; a fourth would trigger an automatic one-game playoff suspension.
Heavy minutes for the rookie star
Wembanyama logged a season-high 44 minutes in the loss, unusual given San Antonio’s earlier lead. Asked if fatigue was a factor, he replied, “Yeah, I guess I did.” Coach Johnson said the extended run was designed to secure the victory with two off days upcoming.
Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will try to clinch their first championship since 1973 while the Spurs attempt to extend the series.
Source: Hoops Rumors
