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OG Anunoby’s Last-Second Tip-In Lifts Knicks to Historic NBA Finals Comeback
Jun
NEW YORK — The New York Knicks are now one win closer to ending a 53-year championship drought thanks to a play that lasted just 4.5 seconds.
In a dramatic finish to Game 4 of the NBA Finals, OG Anunoby tipped in a missed shot with 1.2 seconds remaining to give the Knicks a stunning 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The win completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history and sent Madison Square Garden into celebration.
Knicks Rally From 29 Points Down
The Knicks faced a daunting challenge for most of the night. At one point, they trailed by 29 points and appeared headed toward a costly defeat.
Late in the fourth quarter, however, New York mounted an incredible comeback. The game came down to one final possession after San Antonio’s Stephon Castle converted two free throws to put the Spurs ahead 106-105.
With 5.7 seconds left, the Knicks called a timeout and prepared for one last chance.
Brunson Takes the Final Shot
Following the timeout, Anunoby inbounded the ball to star guard Jalen Brunson near midcourt.
Brunson quickly created space and launched a deep three-pointer from approximately 31 feet. The shot sailed over the outstretched arm of Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama.
The attempt fell short and bounced high off the rim.
As the ball hung in the air, Anunoby sprinted toward the basket.
“I just went and crashed,” Anunoby said. “Tried to get a tip-dunk or something.”
Anunoby Delivers the Winning Moment
With 2.5 seconds remaining, Anunoby slipped past several defenders and positioned himself perfectly for a rebound opportunity.
The forward elevated above San Antonio defenders and reached the ball first. Using his right hand, he redirected the rebound softly toward the basket.
The ball rolled over the front rim and dropped through the net with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.
“Right hand from God,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said after the game.
The basket gave New York a one-point lead, its largest advantage of the night.
Madison Square Garden Erupts
As the shot fell, longtime broadcaster Mike Breen captured the moment with a memorable call.
“Bedlam here at the Garden!” Breen shouted as fans erupted inside Madison Square Garden.
Brunson celebrated immediately, while Anunoby fell to the floor after making contact with the ball.
For teammate Josh Hart, the play brought both relief and joy. Hart had blamed himself for a defensive mistake moments earlier and had also missed a potential go-ahead layup late in the game.
“I’ve got a special shoutout for OG,” Hart said. “He saved me, at least for this game, a lifetime of regret.”
A Shot That Could Define a Championship Run
The dramatic finish may become one of the most memorable moments in Knicks history.
Had the rebound bounced in a different direction, the outcome could have changed completely. Instead, Anunoby found himself in the perfect position at the perfect time.
Spurs rookie Dylan Harper acknowledged the role of fortune in the play.
“The ball bounced off the rim the right way,” Harper said. “He tipped it in the right way. It went in.”
Knicks head coach Mike Brown believes the shot deserves a place among the franchise’s greatest moments.
“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said. “It was unbelievable.”
Knicks Move Closer to NBA Title
The victory gives New York a commanding position in the NBA Finals and moves the franchise closer to its first championship since 1973.
While the series is not over, Game 4 will be remembered for a sequence that lasted only a few seconds but may ultimately define an entire season.
For Knicks fans, those final 4.5 seconds could become part of franchise lore for generations to come.
