In a jaw-dropping turn of events, the San Antonio Spurs squandered a massive 29-point lead in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, ultimately falling to the New York Knicks 107-106 at Madison Square Garden. This stunning defeat now puts the Spurs in a precarious 3-1 hole in the series, leaving fans and analysts alike reeling.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson faced the media after the game, grappling with the shocking collapse and what went wrong for his team in the second half. “It’s tough to score just 30 points in a half,” Johnson remarked. “We strayed from the aggressive style that helped us rack up 76 points in the first half, losing our edge in attacking the rim and moving the ball effectively.”
The Spurs were on fire in the first half, shooting an impressive 59.6% from the field and nailing 14 three-pointers, setting a new Finals record for most threes made in a half. However, the second half was a stark contrast, as they managed only 14 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth, shooting a dismal 20.5% from the field.
Despite holding a 20-point advantage early in the fourth quarter, the Knicks began to mount a comeback, leaving Johnson to reflect on when he sensed the tide turning. “I didn’t feel it until the final buzzer,” he said. “There were moments in the third and early fourth where we lost our focus. We needed to maintain the aggressive play that got us the lead.”
In a dramatic final sequence, the Spurs appeared to have sealed the game when they forced Jalen Brunson to miss a crucial shot. With a one-point lead and under 20 seconds left, De’Aaron Fox had the opportunity to secure the win but opted to attack the basket instead, only to be blocked by OG Anunoby. The Knicks regained possession, and Anunoby delivered the game-winning tip-in.
The aftermath of the game saw Hall of Famer Charles Barkley criticizing Fox and the Spurs on “Inside the NBA,” labeling them as “the dumbest team in the history of civilization.” The Spurs now face the daunting challenge of bouncing back from this heart-wrenching loss, with elimination looming.
Johnson, however, remains optimistic. “We have two days to prepare for the next game,” he stated. “That’s the only one that matters now. We respect the Knicks and their performance, but we believe we’ve had a hand in the outcomes of all four games, and we need to improve moving forward.”
With the Spurs reflecting on missed opportunities that could have shifted the series in their favor, Game 5 is set to tip off at Frost Bank Center on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. How will this resilient Spurs team respond to the pressure?
