The New York Knicks pulled off the largest comeback in NBA finals history, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
San Antonio dominated the first half, building an 81-52 lead in the third quarter.
The Spurs seemed poised to even the series before New York mounted a massive second-half turnaround.
With fewer than 15 seconds remaining and the Spurs leading 106-105, Jalen Brunson missed a floating bank shot.
De'Aaron Fox recovered the loose ball in the backcourt and drove toward the basket instead of slowing the game to force a foul.
OG Anunoby pursued Fox and blocked the layup attempt, returning possession to the Knicks.
Brunson missed a subsequent 31-foot shot, but Anunoby jumped from the top of the key to tip in the winning basket with 1.2 seconds left.
Fox's Decision Draws Criticism
Fox explained his thought process after the game. "Haven't scored.
Try to get a lay-up, get up three. Force them to need a three," he said.
"OG made a good block."
When asked why he attacked the rim instead of running out the clock, Fox replied, "I just thought I'd be able to outrun them.
That's it."
Charles Barkley criticized the play on TNT's post-game broadcast. "That was a dumbass play," Barkley said.
"He did not have to shoot that ball."
Fox had safer options, such as pulling back to wait for a foul or calling San Antonio's final timeout.
Instead, his aggressive drive allowed Anunoby to make a decisive defensive play.
The defeat highlighted a second-half collapse for San Antonio. The Spurs scored 76 points in the first half but managed only 30 after halftime.
Their offensive rhythm and perimeter shooting faded as New York reduced the deficit.
"Obviously let that get away, being up [29 points]," Fox said. "Got away from doing the things that got us up and put ourselves in that position."
Fox noted a shift in tempo during the final two quarters. "I think we played a little slower," he added.
"The ball wasn't moving the same way that it did in the second half like it did in the first half."
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson expressed similar observations. "We got away from what got us the 76 points in the first half," Johnson said.
"Then you saw at times the aggressiveness and just conviction that we played with early on dissipate a little bit."
Johnson shared his frustration regarding the squandered lead.
"To put as much good work into that first half as we did, get the lead that we had and not finish the job, is disappointing to say the least."
Victor Wembanyama fell during the final play and could not see the layup attempt, but he offered a brief critique.
"We clearly weren't the most hungry in the second half," Wembanyama said. "Stopped moving the ball.
Stopped executing."
San Antonio now faces a 3-1 series deficit after losing control of a game that seemed secure just minutes earlier.
