Knicks Complete Record NBA Finals Comeback from 29 Down

The New York Knicks have completed a record NBA Finals comeback from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 series lead.

OG Anunoby tipped in the miss of Jalen Brunson's long 3-point attempt with 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the 107-106 win, moving the Knicks to the brink of their first championship since 1973.

It looked impossible early, when the Spurs rolled to a 27-point half-time lead. But Brunson helped bring the Knicks back with 36 points and Anunoby finished with 33.

Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio (Sunday AEST).

Since the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play for all four quarters in 1997, no team had come from more than 24 points down in a finals game when Boston did it against the Lakers in 2008. The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter.

The only bigger comeback on record in any play-off game was 31 points by the Los Angeles Clippers against Golden State in Game 2 of a first-round series in 2019.

The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak snapped in game three and seemed headed for a second straight defeat throughout the first half, when Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs opened the biggest half-time lead by a visiting team in the finals.

But the young Spurs, who made 11 of their first 16 3-pointers, went cold in the second half, going 3 for 17 behind the arc as the Knicks outscored them 58-30.

Delirious fans inside Madison Square Garden sang along to Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" a few minutes after watching something that seemed almost impossible.

Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds, but shot just 9 for 25 from the field.

Road teams had won the first three games, only the second time that had happened in the finals. San Antonio was well on its way to making it 4 for 4.

President Donald Trump wasn't at this game — Taylor Swift was — but the same restrictions remained around Madison Square Garden as when he attended Game 3. That angered the Knicks, who decided not to go forward with plans to hold an outdoor watch party outside the arena.

Fans booed Wembanyama when he came on to the floor to warm up about an hour before the game and the Knicks tried to get rough with him, with Mitchell Robinson called for a flagrant foul for hitting him above the shoulders and Jose Alvarado reviewed for one after going below the belt.

Wembanyama — who was also called for a flagrant — stood up OK against the Knicks but will regret the two free throws he missed with 1:47 left and San Antonio leading 104-103.