New York completed the greatest comeback in finals history in Game 4, bouncing back from 27 points down at halftime to win 105-104. Even in the fourth quarter, the hosts trailed by 20 points and looked like they had no chance of winning this contest, but as we’ve seen so many times across the last two postseasons, New York continued to believe and come the 1:21 mark, they had taken the lead through a Jalen Brunson floater. San Antonio got back in front with a pair of free throws from Stephon Castle, and it looked like the visitors were going to hold on as Brunson missed in the following possession, but OG Anunoby was on hand to provide a clutch block on De’Aaron Fox’s layup attempt, before putting NY in front with a miraculous putback tip-in. New York’s defence then held SA off in the final possession of the game, with Karl-Anthony Towns getting a crucial deflection on the inbounds pass to slightly alter the play and send New York up 3-1 in the series in one of the most remarkable finals games of all-time.
As we now head back to Texas for Game 5, San Antonio have a huge job ahead of them if they are to come back in this series, but it doesn’t feel like it’s beyond their reach given their periods of dominance through the first four games. Their 76-49 first half was another example of this, largely thanks to lights out shooting from the likes of Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama, who combined to go 17/23 from the floor and 4/4 from the free throw line for 46 first half points. Fox also had 13 points and six assists in the first to further aid the visitors’ offence, as the team shot 14/26 from deep to record a monster 24 minutes of basketball. However, things came crashing down in the third and fourth quarters, as San Antonio blew layups (just 2/14 at the rim) and went ice cold from deep (3/17) to have just eight made field goals en route to just 30 second half points. It was a complete reversal in form from the first half and saw San Antonio completely collapse offensively, as Wemby struggled to generate good looks, Fox looked flustered and had four second half turnovers and Vassell lost his intensity on both ends to have just three points and be a -28 in 20 minutes of play.
New York continue to show incredible belief and resilience, notching up their fifth 20+ point comeback in the last two postseasons on Thursday, and that will fill them with confidence heading into a potential closeout game on Sunday. Excellent second halves from both Brunson and Anunoby are what got New York the win in Game 4, as Brunson recorded 17 points, including some clutch buckets, and four assists in 24 minutes of play, while Anunoby had 19 points (including 5/5 from deep and the game-winning tip-in), one steal and one block. Towns’ play on Wembanyama was also highly influential, limiting him to just 3/14 shooting in the second half, and Jose Alvarado’s energy off the bench saw him get the close over Mikal Bridges in the fourth. It was a real two-way effort from New York to complete the comeback, limiting San Antonio to no transition points and just a 59 offensive rating in the halfcourt, and on the offensive end, New York shot a stellar 67.4 TS%, led by 11/20 shooting from deep to pull off the impossible and be just one win away from a championship.
We’re going to see everything that San Antonio has in Game 6, being a do-or-die home game, and I expect a big win from them. There will be an element of complacence for New York, knowing that they have to head back home regardless of the result on Sunday, and SA will know that they have to keep their offence moving quickly and get out in transition to keep the points coming. There’s a clear blueprint for offensive success for the hosts and their defence has been 9.7 points per 100 possessions better at home in the postseason, and I expect them to keep a lid on New York’s scoring to make for a comfortable win.