OG Big On Defense And Offense
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Captain Clutch Brunson Comes Through Again
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
Incredible! Epic! Historic! Those words are being used to describe the New York Knicks 107-106 win in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs at the World’s Most Famous Arena Madison Square Garden this past Wednesday night. The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit in the second have. In was the biggest deficit any NBA teams had to overcome in the Finals. San Antonio jumped out to a 27-point halftime lead as the New York defense was non-existent as they gave up 76-points. It didn’t matter to the 19,812 sold out crowd who stayed to the very end. The rabid, frenzied fans were rewarded as the Knicks took a 3-1 series lead. If they win game 5 in San Antonio, they will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the first time in 53 years. New York last went to the Finals in 1999 when they lost to the Spurs in 5-games. The Orange and Blue had to watch San Antonio celebrate on the Garden floor.
In a stunning turn of events, the Knicks defense suddenly woke up in the second half only allowing 14 third quarter points and 16 fourth quarter points. Offensively, they scored 26 third quarter points and 32 fourth quarter points. New York took its first lead of the game with 1:22 in the final quarter when captain and guard Jalen Brown dropped a driving floater giving them a 105-104 lead. Spurs Stephon Castle is fouled by Knicks Josh Hart, calmly sinks 2 free throws as San Antonio regained the lead 106-105. A Knicks turnover led to a Spurs De’Aaron fast break but New York’s forward OG Anunoby blocks the lay-up attempt setting the stage for the Knicks game winning basket.
Getting the ball back with 4.3 seconds, Anunoby inbounds the ball to Brunson who pulls up from the 3-point line. Wembanyama jumps out to contest the shot. Anunoby crashes the glass and tips in the ball, giving them the lead. Said Anunoby of the play, “I just went and crashed to try and get a tip dunk or something. The ball went over my head, so l couldn’t really dunk it. I just tried to tip it in softly and it went in.”
With 1.4 seconds left, the Spurs Dylan Harper inbounds the ball to Castle and he failed to get a shot off as the historic comeback was complete.
Brunson finished his night with 36 points, Anunoby added 33 connecting on 7 of 9, 3-pointers. Wemby led the Spurs with 24 points but missed 6 of 8 from 3-point land. What propelled the Spurs in the first half converting from the 3-point line in the first half, abandoned them in the second have as they took 43 total attempts, making only 17.
Said head coach Mike Brown after, “you have to have a little luck in life. You’ve got to have a little luck in sports. But you can also make your luck too. So, you’ve got to have some natural luck and some luck where you’re going to make your own luck, and that was probably the biggest message.”
Brunson and Anunoby became the first Knicks duo to each score 30-plus points in a Finals game.
Game 4 will go down as one of greatest NBA Final games in NBA history. The type of game where fans will remember where they were to witness history.
Recent Comments