MSG Cancels Knicks Finals Watch Party as New York Eyes 3-1 Lead

Q: How did the Knicks orchestrate the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history after a 29-point deficit?

The Knicks erased the 29-point hole by completely flipping the game after halftime: tightening their defense, surviving San Antonio’s early shooting barrage, and getting star-level production from Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby at the right moments. San Antonio looked in total control early, leading 76-49 at halftime after setting an NBA Finals record with 14 made three-pointers in the first half. The Spurs’ lead grew to 81-52 in the third quarter and was still 95-75 with 9:33 left in the fourth. But the Knicks changed the game by forcing the Spurs out of rhythm. After that explosive first half, San Antonio managed only 14 points in the third quarter and 16 in the fourth. Brunson was central to the turnaround. After missing all four of his shots in the first quarter, he recovered to finish with 36 points, seven assists and three steals, giving New York shot creation and late-game control. Anunoby provided the other major lift, scoring 33 points while shooting 10-for-15 overall and 7-for-9 from three-point range, keeping the Knicks within striking distance as they chipped away. The comeback was completed in the closing seconds. With the Knicks down one, Brunson missed a three-pointer, but Anunoby crashed the glass and tipped it in for the game-winning basket in a 107-106 victory. That rally gave New York a 3-1 series lead and put the franchise one win from its first NBA title since 1973.

Q: After a record-setting first half, what caused the San Antonio Spurs' historic Finals collapse against New York?

San Antonio’s collapse was driven by a complete second-half breakdown after its record-setting start. The Spurs hit a Finals-record 14 three-pointers in the first half and led 76-49, but their offense stalled badly after halftime, finishing the second half with just 30 points and shooting 8-for-39 from the field. The biggest shift was their shooting and decision-making. After the hot first half, the Spurs went cold from deep, managed only two made threes in the third quarter, and began settling for difficult jumpers and forced lob attempts. At the same time, their ball security worsened, with turnovers rising as New York increased pressure and pace. Late-game execution also failed them. Victor Wembanyama, who finished with 16 points, missed two key free throws in the final minutes and struggled badly down the stretch, missing nine of 10 shots during one critical stretch. On the final possession, San Antonio did not even get a clean shot off, fumbling the inbounds sequence in the closing seconds. Fatigue appeared to be part of the problem as well. Several Spurs regulars logged heavy minutes and looked worn down in the fourth quarter, while the Knicks kept attacking behind Jalen Brunson’s 36 points and OG Anunoby’s 33, including the winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds left. In short, the Spurs’ historic Finals collapse came from a mix of cold shooting, turnovers, poor late-game execution and New York’s relentless comeback.

Q: Will Jalen Brunson avenge his father's 1999 loss and end the Knicks' 50+ year championship drought?

He is in position to do it, but it is not settled yet. Jalen Brunson has already moved the Knicks to the brink of history. New York’s 107-106 Game 4 win over San Antonio gave the Knicks a 3-1 NBA Finals lead, leaving them one victory from their first championship since 1973 and a 53-year title drought. Brunson was central again, scoring 36 points as the Knicks completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The “revenge” angle is real in basketball terms. This Finals is a rematch of the 1999 series that the Spurs won over the Knicks, when Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father, was on that New York team. Now Rick Brunson is an assistant coach on the current Knicks staff, and Jalen is the franchise star trying to finish what that group could not. Still, the answer is not yet definitive because the title has not been won. A 3-1 lead is commanding, but San Antonio already showed in Game 3 that it can beat New York in this series. The Spurs also have Victor Wembanyama and enough shooting to threaten any opponent. What can be said clearly is that Brunson has put the Knicks one win away from both avenging the 1999 Finals loss to the Spurs and ending one of the NBA’s longest championship droughts. If New York closes the series, he will be the face of that achievement.

3 articles · Updated · NBC New York · Jun 10

Madison Square Garden canceled its outdoor Knicks watch party at the last minute Wednesday because severe storms threatened to drench fans gathered outside.
Game 4 still carried major stakes inside the arena: New York could move within one win of its first NBA title since 1973 by taking a 3-1 series lead over San Antonio.
The weather disruption came as the Knicks tried to rebound from Monday's loss, when the Spurs ended New York's 13-game winning streak.
The cancellation underscored how the NBA Finals drama in Manhattan extended beyond the court, with storm risks reshaping fan events around MSG.