The wild Knicks stat you won’t believe from their historic comeback
Game 4 between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs had it all - a historic comeback, a last-second tip-in, and one absurd stat that defined it all.
The New York Knicks just pulled off one of the most improbable wins in NBA Finals history with their 107-106 Game 4 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. And one ridiculous stat behind it somehow undersells how insane the game actually was.
A stat that shouldn’t be possible
Despite their win, which puts them just one win away from the championship, the Knicks were almost never in the lead throughout the game. In fact...
The New York Knicks led for just 53.8 seconds in Game 4.
They had the lead for less than a minute, and they still won. In a game the Spurs controlled almost wire-to-wire, the Knicks didn’t grab the lead until the final seconds. That tiny window, just 53.8 seconds, was enough.
It’s now the second-lowest amount of time leading in a Finals win since the 1976-77 merger, a stat that feels almost impossible when you see how the game unfolded.
This wasn’t just a close game where New York hung around either. They were getting blown out. The Spurs led by 27 at halftime (76–49). The lead ballooned to 29 points in the second half, and San Antonio hit a Finals-record 14 threes in the first half.
For most of the night, this looked like a series-tying rout. Instead, it turned into history. The Knicks stormed back with a massive second half, outscoring the Spurs 58–30 after the break
Jalen Brunson (36 points) and OG Anunoby (33 points) led the charge, combining for relentless scoring down the stretch. Then came the moment. With 1.2 seconds left, Anunoby tipped in a missed three to give the Knicks their first lead of the entire game.
That was it. That was the 53.8 seconds. This is the purest example of something coaches say all the time: It doesn’t matter when you lead...just that you lead last.
For the Spurs… a historic collapse
Flip the stat around, and it gets even more brutal. The Spurs led for 47+ minutes, built a 29-point advantage, and shot just 20.5% in the second half. And still lost. It’s being called one of the worst collapses in NBA Finals history.
With the 107–106 win, the Knicks take a 3–1 series lead and sit one win away from their first title since 1973. And if this game proved anything, it’s that they don’t need control or comfort. Apparently… they don’t even need a full minute.
Game 5 tips off Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Frost Bank Center as the series heads back to San Antonio, Texas.
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