The New York Knicks are now one win away from ending a championship drought that has lasted more than five decades. While many may consider Jalen Brunson the main reason for the recent success, the Knicks star also credits another teammate in the locker room.
New York claimed a dramatic 107-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama and his team led for most of the game. However, during the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Brunson and OG Anunoby took over.
Following the win, Brunson had some praise for his teammate. “OG is someone who brings it every night,” said the Knicks star. “His confidence has grown just because of his work ethic. He’s got exponentially better at. Regardless of what the outside world thinks of him, we know we have a superstar in the locker room.”
The praise came after Anunoby delivered one of the biggest moments in franchise history. The Knicks star blocked a shot by De’Aaron Fox on the defensive end during the final seconds of the game. Then, with only 1.2 seconds left on the clock, he tipped in the game-winning shot off Brunson’s missed 3-point attempt. He made an impact on both ends of the floor, making him the man of the hour.
Anunoby recorded 33 points in Game 4, while Brunson scored a game-high 36 points and added seven assists. The Knicks had a mountain to climb to secure the victory. The Spurs held a 29-point lead in the second quarter and entered halftime ahead 76-49. That 27-point advantage was the largest halftime lead ever held by a road team in NBA Finals history.
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Yet the Knicks changed the script. The Spurs managed to score only 30 points in the second half, opening the door for New York to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The previous record was a 24-point comeback by the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2008.
As the Knicks head to San Antonio for Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center, they have a chance to claim the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973. Fans will once again hope Anunoby and Brunson can continue their hot form in what could be the final game of the season.