The San Antonio Spurs had everything going their way as they built a 29-point lead over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It appeared certain that the road dominance of the championship series would continue and that Victor Wembanyama and his teammates would go home with significant momentum after tying the series at 2-2.
However, the outsized lead that the Spurs had built with brilliant three-point shooting, relentless defense and decisive offense fell apart in the second half. The Knicks were able to cut the lead to 15 points at the end of three quarters, and that created a believability on the New York bench. The fourth quarter saw Jalen Brunson (36 points, 7 assists), Jose Alvarado (8 points, 3 assists) and OG Anunoby (33 points, 4 rebounds) dominate in the final minutes as the Knicks came all the way back to record a 107-106 victory and take a 3-1 series lead.
The Knicks monstrous come-from-behind effort may forever become known as the Madison Square Garden Miracle, but only if New York can win one more game and bring the team its first NBA crown since 1973. That Knicks team included Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley and Earl Monroe, and those players remain beloved in The Big Apple to this very day.
The Spurs clearly let an opportunity slip through their grasp and now face the daunting task of beating the Knicks in three games in a row if they are going to win the NBA title. While the hours that followed Game 4 were clearly painful for head coach Mitch Johnson’s team, they will have an opportunity to put that game behind them when the two teams meet Saturday in San Antonio.
The Spurs lost the first two games of the series at the Frost Bank Center, but they must find a way to defend their home court or their season will be over.
Spurs can get off to fast start
The Spurs have gotten out of the gate in brilliant fashion in each of the first four games. It is as if they had taken lessons from Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt because they have built double-digit leads in the first quarter of all four games in their series.
Wembanyama has been able to use his size, quickness and skill to put the Knicks in a difficult position, and the Knicks have had to use all their energy to come back in all four games. They were not able to finish the job in Game 3 and they played their worst basketball of the series in the first half of Game 4. Johnson must emphasize his team’s superiority at the start of that game when going over the game film.
Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, De’Aaron Fox and rookie Dylan Harper were all involved in building the big lead, and they did that because they were the better and more determined team. The Spurs did not gain that advantage by accident. They have been sharper and more determined out of the gate, and there’s no reason that can’t continue at the start of Game 5.
Strategy must change if long shots stop falling
The Spurs scored 76 points in the first half in building a 27-point lead. However, as often happens during the NBA regular season, it’s impossible for one team to keep building on a substantial lead. The Knicks had mounted comeback victories in Games 1 and 2 against the Spurs, and they had also had a monstrous 22-point comeback in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That comeback started with less than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter before the Knicks came away with a 115-114 overtime triumph. The Spurs fully understand what the Knicks are capable of doing, and they can’t make it easier for them to come back from a double-digit deficit.
They did just that with some of their offensive decisions in the fourth quarter. The Spurs attempted eight unsuccessful three-point shots while the Knicks were in the midst of their rally. While the Knicks’ defense continually harassed the Spurs in the second half, they should not have attempted so many shots from distance when they were not falling.
They also rushed several of those shots, refusing to take time off the game clock and not taking advantage of the full 24-second shot clock.
The Spurs scored just 30 points in the final 24 minutes, significantly less than in either of the first two quarters. Wembanyama and his teammates did not play with the same determination in the second half that they had in the first, and the Knicks kept charging.
“I think it began before (the fourth quarter),” Wembanyama said after the game. “I can’t really explain it right now and I don’t know. We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”
Spurs must learn their lesson
The Knicks have mounted comebacks in all four of the NBA Finals games, and they have snatched victory in three of them. However, the Spurs have been able to build big leads because they play a relentless brand of defense and they have the talent to build big leads over the Knicks for long periods in each game.
They understand that the Knicks are a powerful team and capable of overcoming deficits, but the Spurs have done their part in allowing the Knicks to gain momentum.
The Spurs can’t assume anything when they get a lead in Game 5, and they must continue to push for 48 minutes in order to gain a victory in Game 5 and send the series back to Madison Square Garden for Tuesday’s Game 6.
This series is not over and the Spurs will have a chance to overcome the humiliation they had in choking away Game 4. Wmbanyama and his teammates should not be counted out.
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