According to our information, in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, the New York Knicks pulled off a stunning comeback after falling as many as 29 points behind, ultimately edging the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 to take a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 shifts to San Antonio on Saturday, and the defending champions’ title defense has reached the brink.
29-Point Comeback Rewrites the Finals Narrative
It was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Late in the game, OG Anunoby scored on a putback with 1.2 seconds left to seal the win for the Knicks. For the Spurs, this was not just a loss on the scoreboard—it was a psychological blow. They had built a massive lead in this game, only to watch their opponent claw back inch by inch in the fourth quarter.
Looking at the broader trend, collapses of this “win first, lose later” variety often test more than what’s on the tactical board—they challenge a young roster’s emotional composure on the sport’s biggest stage. The Spurs fought their way to the Finals this season with a core rotation that includes several players in the upward arc of their careers. Whether they can turn the lessons of Game 4 into execution at home on Saturday will directly define this young team’s ceiling.
“Keep Swinging”: Spurs Locker Room Refuses to Surrender
After the game, guard Dylan Harper’s comments best captured the team’s current mindset. He said they would bring “fire” into the next game, and even if they were going to lose, it could not end the way Game 4 did. “We’ll keep swinging,” Harper said. “No complaining, no pointing fingers—the time to step up is now.”
Guard Stephon Castle admitted the loss would take time to process, but said the team still believes in one another and remains confident they can win Game 5. Forward Keldon Johnson likewise emphasized that despite the pain being real, the team still believes it can win three straight to complete the comeback. “We’ve invested a lot,” Johnson said. “This is a special group. We’re coming back, and we believe we can do it.”
That "backs-to-the-wall yet still rising to the occasion" mentality is no empty Finals-stage rhetoric. In the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs rallied from a 2-3 hole to eliminate reigning 2025 champion Oklahoma City. Harper drew a direct parallel to their current situation: "Every time we've been backed into a corner, we've responded, and this time will be no different." For readers following young players' development arcs, the takeaway from these examples is clear: résumés forged on the biggest stages are often built on back-to-back climbs out of the abyss, not on one comfortable run.
Wembanyama Suspension Risk Looms as a Hidden Variable
Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 French big man, remains the Spurs' central pillar on both ends of the floor. The 22-year-old center, who just won NBA Defensive Player of the Year, faces a real constraint: one more flagrant foul will trigger an automatic one-game suspension. Wembanyama said he will play with more caution, but stressed that will not fundamentally change the way he plays.
He also mapped out the team's remaining path: hold each other accountable, improve communication, and stop pointing fingers at one another, "and then either get it done or accept the result." With the Spurs trailing 1-3, any technical foul or flagrant foul call could directly shift the balance of the series—a key detail that must be factored into the tactical discipline discussion ahead of Saturday's home game.
On the Knicks Side: One Win From a Title, Still No Room to Relax
Knicks scoring leader Jalen Brunson's attitude stands in contrast to the Spurs'. Even with the team one win away from another championship in franchise history, he still emphasized, "There's nothing to celebrate—it's far from over." Brunson said the only thing that matters right now is focusing on what must be done in Game 5: "We still have a lot to learn and improve."
For fans planning to attend in person or watch the broadcast, the timing for Game 5 is set: Saturday, at home in San Antonio. The team leading 3-1 in the series usually holds both a psychological edge and a scheduling advantage, but the Knicks’ front office and core players have sent a consistent message—treat every game as if the score were 0-0. The Spurs’ home court is renowned for its atmosphere; if the hosts can channel the sting of blowing a 29-point lead into early-game intensity and fourth-quarter focus, the series still theoretically leaves a window for a comeback—though teams down 3-1 that go on to win the title are exceedingly rare in history.
Saturday at Home: San Antonio’s Do-or-Die Line
From both the viewing experience and the trajectory of the series, Game 5 is almost the Spurs’ last gate of the season. Win, and the suspense continues; lose, and the Knicks will face a championship-clinching opportunity at home. Harper, Castle and Johnson have all pointed to the same conclusion: emotions can wait until tomorrow, but preparation cannot. Wembanyama’s foul discipline, the bench’s ability to close out when ahead, and the team’s response to New York’s rallying pace will be the three most visible things to watch.
Our on-site assessment: the Spurs have not surrendered in words, and their comeback pedigree in the Western Conference Finals shows they have the grit to withstand pressure; but a 29-point collapse at the NBA Finals level casts a longer shadow tactically and psychologically. Saturday’s home performance is not just the result of one game—it is the dividing line for whether this young Spurs team can turn “keep swinging” from a slogan into championship-grade resilience.