Knicks Steal 107-106 Game 4 After Fox's Late Layup Is Blocked

Q: Is De'Aaron Fox's costly decision the single worst blunder in the history of the NBA Finals?

No. It is too early, and the historical bar is too high, to call De’Aaron Fox’s play the single worst blunder in NBA Finals history. What is fair to say is that it was one of the most damaging recent Finals mistakes. The context makes it severe: San Antonio led by one with about 15 seconds left, Fox had secured the ball, and the Spurs were in position to force New York into a foul game. Instead, he attacked for a layup, OG Anunoby blocked it, Fox then committed a foul at half court, and Anunoby delivered the winning tip-in. The sequence flipped a likely Spurs win into a 107-106 loss and put New York up 3-1 after the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, from 29 points down. That combination of game situation, series stakes, and the fact that Fox made two costly decisions in the final seconds is why the reaction was so harsh. Charles Barkley called it a “dumbass play,” and even Fox’s own explanation showed he was gambling for a three-point lead rather than protecting possession. Still, “worst ever” requires a broader historical comparison than the available reporting provides. The coverage supports calling it a monumental, potentially legacy-defining mistake and one of the most infamous Finals errors in memory. It does not definitively establish it as the single worst in league history. So the strongest defensible answer is this: an all-time bad Finals blunder, but not clearly the worst ever.

Q: After the biggest comeback in Finals history, can the Knicks finally end their 53-year championship drought in San Antonio?

Yes — the Knicks are now in commanding position to end the drought, though it is not finished until they win one more game. New York’s 107-106 Game 4 win gave it a 3-1 Finals lead over San Antonio, and that is historically decisive territory. Finals teams that go up 3-1 have won the championship 37 of 38 times. The Knicks are also carrying major momentum after producing the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit and closing with OG Anunoby’s block and game-winning tip-in. The case for New York is strong beyond the series score. The Knicks have been one of the postseason’s most dominant teams, reached the Finals after a 27-year absence, and are now one win from their first title since 1973. Anunoby has emerged as a potential Finals MVP, and the Knicks have shown they can survive even when they look beaten. Still, San Antonio remains dangerous at home. The Spurs won 62 regular-season games, have Victor Wembanyama — the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and an MVP runner-up — and already showed in Game 3 that they can beat New York in this series. They also have enough talent to punish any emotional letdown from the Knicks after such a dramatic win. So the Knicks can absolutely finish it in San Antonio on Saturday, and history says they should. But the safer reading is that they are now overwhelming favorites, not champions yet.

3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 11

OG Anunoby’s tip-in completed a Knicks comeback from 15 down in the final 8 1/2 minutes, giving New York a 107-106 NBA Finals Game 4 win at Madison Square Garden.
With about 15 seconds left and San Antonio up 1, De’Aaron Fox broke free after a deflection but chose a layup instead of running clock and drawing a foul; Anunoby blocked it.
Fox then fouled Jose Alvarado at half court, stopping play and setting up the final inbound sequence that ended with Anunoby’s winner.
Fox said he tried to push the lead to 3 because he thought he could outrun Anunoby, while Charles Barkley called the decision a "dumbass play" on ESPN.
The swing could reshape the series heading into Game 5 on Saturday in San Antonio, despite Fox finishing with 18 points, 7 assists and 4 turnovers.