Why did Spurs blow a 29-point lead?
The Spurs’ collapse after owning the first half
The Spurs entered Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals looking like they were headed for a routine result after a dominant first half against the Knicks. San Antonio built a massive advantage and carried strong momentum into the later stages, including a historically hot stretch from three-point range earlier in the game.
But the Knicks’ second-half run flipped the game. New York outplayed San Antonio when the game was in the balance—turning a near-certain loss into a one-point victory and a 3-1 series lead.
What the available reports highlight
- Second-half performance collapse: After the Spurs’ early advantage, their ability to sustain offense and control possessions fell apart as the Knicks surged.
- Critical late decision-making: Multiple discussion items focus on late-game choices by San Antonio, including an explanation from Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox about a late, unconventional layup attempt.
- Defensive lapse on the decisive play: The game ended with OG Anunoby’s tip-in (a fingertip redirection/putback described across coverage), which came on a crucial late sequence where San Antonio failed to prevent the Knicks from scoring.
- Free-throw and foul/flag institutions adding pressure: Coverage also points to late free-throw misses and foul-related controversy that added to the pressure as the final minutes unfolded.
Why it matters
Spurs fans and national voices treated the loss as an unraveling—one that will define the series in memory because the lead was so large and the turnaround so complete. Even the Spurs’ star Victor Wembanyama and teammates were left in disbelief after San Antonio’s inability to convert the earlier control of the game into a win.
Game 4 wasn’t just a loss; it became the centerpiece of the Finals’ “impossible comeback” story. For San Antonio, the immediate task is figuring out how to prevent a repeat after having the game seemingly in hand.