The San Antonio Spurs collapsed spectacularly, losing Game 4 to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday evening.
The Spurs led by as many as 29 points during the game, but couldn’t stem the Knicks’ relentless offense, which led to the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history as New York secured a 107-106 victory.
Manu Ginobili Reacts to San Antonio’s Historic Game 4 Collapse
San Antonio held a dominant 76-49 halftime lead but was outscored 58-30 by New York in the second half.
To put the Spurs’ collapse into context, they managed only 30 points in the second half, shooting a woeful 8-of-39 as their shots stopped falling.
The Spurs turned the ball over 10 times in the second half and blew a massive 20-point fourth-quarter lead, sending Madison Square Garden into raptures at the final whistle.
After San Antonio’s Game 4 loss, Spurs legend Manu Ginobili expressed his shock at the collapse.
“I cannot believe what just happened! Unreal! Extremely tough loss. Now time to lick wounds and try again. No alternatives,” Ginobili wrote.
Ginobili, who played for the Spurs throughout his NBA career, won four championships with the team and was part of the ‘Big Three’ alongside Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, helping turn San Antonio into a dynasty.
He was appointed as San Antonio’s special advisor to basketball operations in 2021.
During the “Inside the NBA” postgame show, NBA legend Charles Barkley roasted coach Mitch Johnson’s team’s management of the game that would have leveled the series ahead of its return to San Antonio.
“That was some of the most mismanaged, stupid basketball,” Barkley said. “When you blow a 29-point lead, the other team has to help you. The San Antonio Spurs helped the New York Knicks win this game by doing some of the stupidest stuff I’ve ever seen on a basketball court.”
With San Antonio leading 104-103 with 1:47 remaining on the clock, Victor Wembanyama missed a pair of free throws.
The decisive moment came when guard De’Aaron Fox chose to go for a layup rather than hold on to the ball, with the Spurs leading 106-105. His shot was blocked by OG Anunoby, who went on to tip in the game-winner.
As the ill-tempered series shifts to San Antonio, Johnson’s team is on the brink and has its task cut out against a Knicks side that is one win away from winning its first championship in 53 years.
