Spurs Clear Luke Kornet for Game 5 After Illness as Knicks Try to Finish 4-1

Q: After the biggest Finals comeback ever, are the Knicks showing championship grit or a fatal flaw that could still cost them the title?

The Knicks are showing championship grit, but the comeback also exposed a flaw that could still make this series harder than it should be. The evidence for grit is overwhelming. New York erased a 29-point deficit in Game 4, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, after already rallying from 14 down in Game 1. Jalen Brunson’s 36 points and OG Anunoby’s 33, capped by the winning tip-in, reflected a team that stays composed under extreme pressure. Just as important, the Knicks made real adjustments: they defended far better in the second half and continued using actions that pull Victor Wembanyama away from the rim, weakening San Antonio’s defensive structure. But the same game underlined a real danger. The Spurs have owned the opening stages of this series, building major first-quarter leads in every game. That is not a sign of control; it is a sign that New York is repeatedly surrendering the initiative and relying on late-game rescue acts. Coach Mike Brown’s warning about complacency is grounded in that reality, and Josh Hart’s comments about focus and detail point to the same issue. So the Knicks look more like a champion than a fraud, especially with a 3-1 lead and proven late-game toughness. Still, if they open Game 5 the way they opened Game 4, they risk giving a young Spurs team renewed life. Their resilience has been title-worthy; their slow starts remain the one habit that could still punish them.

3 articles · Updated · hoopsrumors.com · Jun 14

Luke Kornet will be available for San Antonio in Game 5 after being listed as questionable with an illness, coach Mitch Johnson said before Saturday's game.
The clearance gives the Spurs their backup center back as they try to extend the NBA Finals after New York's dramatic Game 4 comeback put the Knicks one win from the title.
Game 4 exposed issues on both sides: San Antonio built another fast start, while New York's staff spent the two-day break reviewing the mistakes that allowed a 29-point deficit.
The series has also turned on New York's effort to pull Victor Wembanyama away from the rim, forcing switches onto Jalen Brunson and other shooters to wear down the Spurs star.