NEW YORK – A dramatic buzzer-beating tip-in by OG Anunoby has been hailed as the most significant moment in New York Knicks franchise history by coach Mike Brown, after the team completed the largest comeback ever recorded in NBA Finals play to defeat San Antonio 107-106 in Game 4 Wednesday night.
The Knicks mounted an extraordinary rally from 29 points down as the previously deflated Madison Square Garden audience exploded in thunderous celebration when Anunoby, who was born in London, converted All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson’s failed three-point shot with just 1.2 seconds remaining.
“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said. “It was just unbelievable.”
New York will head to San Antonio for Game 5 and stands just one victory away from breaking a championship dry spell stretching back to 1973, with even skeptical New York supporters beginning to embrace hope.
“I don’t know if there was a play bigger than any other play in the history in Knicks basketball,” Brown said.
The dramatic finish seemed impossible at intermission, as San Antonio delivered a dominant performance featuring an NBA Finals record 14 made three-pointers in the opening two quarters, while their imposing French star Victor Wembanyama appeared to overcome the anxiety he displayed during portions of the series’ first two contests.
With music superstar Taylor Swift watching from courtside, elevating the Knicks’ already impressive “Celebrity Row” to unprecedented levels of stardom, New York started to flourish under the Garden’s intense spotlight, as Anunoby and Brunson spearheaded the rally that cut the deficit to 15 points entering the final quarter.
Consecutive three-pointers from Brunson and Jose Alvarado in the closing minutes brought the Knicks within one point, giving New York supporters who paid premium prices for the astronomically expensive seats tremendous value for their investment.
“I challenged a lot of our guys today and OG was one of the guys I challenged,” Brown said, marveling at the athleticism that clinched the game. “I told OG, as big, as strong, as athletic as he is, he’s got to be a monster on the offensive glass tonight.”
“That was a huge offensive rebound. Huge offensive rebound. He took on the challenge, and he went and won the game for us.”
The Knicks face the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday in San Antonio.
