As the NFL is currently in the offseason, the entire sports world shifted its attention to the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. Game 4 of the series looked like a guaranteed win for the Spurs in the first half, but a disappointing second-half showing and a costly error from De’Aaron Fox ultimately handed the game away, sparking a strong reaction from former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho.
Emmanuel Acho Blasts De’Aaron Fox and Mitch Johnson After Devastating Game 4 Loss
The Spurs exploded for 76 points in the first half, tying for the third-highest scoring half in NBA Finals history. However, their momentum completely vanished after halftime, as they were held to just 30 points in the second half.
For most of the game, it looked like the Spurs would tie the series at 2-2, but their collapse has left them facing a 3-1 deficit against the Knicks. While multiple Spurs players made costly errors in Game 4, Fox stood out for the most damaging mistake.
On the “Speakeasy” show following Wednesday’s matchup, Acho unleashed a harsh critique of both Fox and Johnson.
“Get De’Aaron Fox the hell up out of here, get Mitch Johnson the hell up out of here, y’all sold,” Acho said. “In a year of investigations, I’m wondering, did you have money on the Knicks? How in the hell did De’Aaron Fox, up by one, with 13 seconds left, you got a fast break, a play that you didn’t even make it because you weren’t responsible for the steal, and you want to go up for a bucket with 13 seconds left by one when you could have solidified the game?”
“You couldn’t get a bucket all night in the second half, De’Aaron Fox,” Acho added. “OG Anunoby had you strapped, and you have the audacity, the goal, the ignorance to believe in that moment you were about to be a hero. A hero? You could have tied up the series… I have seen De’Aaron Fox [make] tonight the dumbest play in the history of the NBA Finals…Everything he touches turns to crap, everything, and in the game on the line, we witnessed it.”
In the closing seconds with San Antonio up by one, Fox had the option to slow the pace, drain the clock, or force a foul situation. Instead, he pushed toward the rim with defenders Anunoby and Jose Alvarado trailing.
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Anunoby ultimately met Fox at the rim and blocked his layup attempt, swinging possession back to New York with 10 seconds remaining. Anunoby later finished a go-ahead tip-in that put the Knicks ahead with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock to secure the win.
Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons also shared his reaction to Fox’s mistake against the Knicks.
“Fox going up with that shot is like ending the game with a pick and fumbling it!! Like wow!! I’m disgusted rn!” Parsons wrote.
Fox ended the night shooting 6-of-16 for 18 points, along with 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 turnovers. The Spurs now head into Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center looking to recover from the devastating Game 4 collapse.
