The New York Knicks are now one win away from ending a championship drought that stretches back more than five decades. They have OG Anunoby to thank for that opportunity.
In one of the most dramatic games in NBA Finals history, the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit Wednesday night before stunning the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 at Madison Square Garden. The comeback alone would have been enough to make headlines. The way it ended made it unforgettable.
With New York trailing by one point in the final seconds, Jalen Brunson launched a potential game-winning three-pointer. The shot missed, but Anunoby was perfectly positioned underneath the basket. The veteran forward tipped the ball through the hoop with 1.2 seconds remaining, sending Madison Square Garden into chaos and giving the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead.
After the game, Knicks head coach Mike Brown was still trying to process what he had witnessed.
“Unbelievable,” Brown said.
That was the first word that came to mind when discussing Anunoby’s game-winning play.
Mike Brown couldn’t stop praising OG Anunoby
Brown’s admiration for the moment didn’t stop with a single word. The veteran coach went on to make an even bigger statement about the play that capped New York’s historic comeback.
“The tip, how he had to control it and tip it in from there, that has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said.
That’s lofty praise considering the Knicks’ long and storied history. But in the heat of the moment, it was difficult to argue with Brown’s excitement. The Knicks looked finished for much of the night before mounting one of the greatest comebacks the NBA Finals has ever seen. When the game was on the line, Anunoby delivered the defining moment.
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Anunoby starred on both ends of the floor
The game-winning tip-in was only part of Anunoby’s incredible performance. He finished with 33 points, four rebounds, one steal and one block while knocking down seven of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. Anunoby also scored 19 second-half points as the Knicks chipped away at San Antonio’s massive lead.
His impact wasn’t limited to offense. Just before the final possession, Anunoby came up with a crucial block on Spurs star De’Aaron Fox. Had Fox converted the layup attempt, New York’s comeback task would have become even more difficult.
Instead, Anunoby made arguably the biggest defensive play of the game before making the biggest offensive play moments later. Following the victory, the forward explained that he simply reacted to what he saw on Brunson’s final shot.
“The shot went up, I was free,” Anunoby said. “There was no one boxing me out, so I just went in there for a tip dunk and ended up just tipping it in.”
The play may have looked simple in Anunoby’s eyes. For Knicks fans, it may become one of the most memorable moments in franchise history.
Now New York heads to San Antonio with a 3-1 series lead and a chance to capture its first NBA championship since 1973.
If the Knicks finish the job, Anunoby’s tip-in will be remembered for much more than winning Game 4. It could ultimately become the play that brought a title back to Madison Square Garden.