Can the San Antonio Spurs come back from the biggest collapse in NBA postseason history? Probably not, but the New York Knicks still need to go win a fourth game to win the NBA Finals.

My Knicks vs. Spurs props and these NBA picks expect San Antonio to at least put up a fight at home in Game 5 on Saturday, June 13.

Best Knicks vs Spurs props for Game 5

Player	Pick
Victor Wembanyama	Over 27.5 points	-120
Karl-Anthony Towns	Over 11.5 rebounds	+110
Dylan Harper	Over 3.5 assists	+125

Game 5 Prop #1: Victor Wembanyama Over 27.5 points

Victor Wembanyama played all 12 minutes of Wednesday’s fourth quarter, yet he scored only five points, going 2-of-9 from the field and not taking a 3-pointer. Consider that to be the latest evidence of the San Antonio Spurs’ superstar’s exhaustion.

This is his first playoff run. He has never played into late April before, let alone mid-June. And the intensity of these games adds up. Fatigue is understandable even if also becoming a liability.

But with an added day off, Wembanyama should be ready to charge forward in Game 5, and he has always preferred shooting at home. Some consideration could be put into betting the Over on his 3-pointers prop, set at 1.5 but juiced to -200.

An extra day off before Game 3 helped Wembanyama to an 11-of-21 showing for 32 points, despite shooting only four 3-pointers. Expect a 3-of-7 or 3-of-8 showing from long range as Wembanyama again reaches 30 points in Game 5.

Game 5 Prop #2: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 11.5 rebounds

The Spurs could not have started Game 4 in a better way than notching two fouls on Karl-Anthony Towns within the first minute of the game. Failing to find a win when granted that break is nearly as damning as blowing a 29-point lead was.

Once Towns was back on the court in full, he returned to his effectiveness. He finished with 10 rebounds despite playing less than 26 minutes. He snagged seven boards once free of his shackles in the second half.

He is effectively the New York Knicks’ only quality big man in this series; obviously that drastically understates Towns’s role. Every Mitchell Robinson minute risks Hack-A-Mitch, but when facing Wembanyama, New York needs size.

Expect at least 35 minutes from Towns in Game 5, if not 40.

This prop is set at the right number, but the plus-money is foolish. Towns cleared this in the first two games of this series, and he fell short in Game 4 only because of the opening minute’s whistles.

Game 5 Prop #3: Dylan Harper Over 3.5 assists

Obviously and memorably De’Aaron Fox had an ugly closing few minutes in Game 4 that likely cost the Spurs a win. But San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson should already have been playing Fox fewer minutes and turning to Dylan Harper more often.

Harper is clearly the Spurs’ best guard in this series, outplaying both Fox and Stephon Castle. He has notched at least three assists in each of the last three games, playing 32 minutes in each and with a usage rate of at least 22.1% in them after playing only 28 minutes in Game 1 with a usage rate of 19.0%.

San Antonio’s best chance at shocking everyone in these Finals includes elevating Harper to the No. 2 role behind Wembanyama. The headlines will say that comes at Fox’s expense, but it was an obvious need long before Fox missed a layup and failed to box out OG Anunoby.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The New York Knicks managed to pull off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history during Game 4 or their series against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Initially trailing by 29 points at the half, the team came back to win 107-106 thanks to a near-buzzer beater scored by OG Anunoby. The series, now 3-1, heads back to San Antonio for Game 5.

The New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 5 is this Saturday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET and airs on ABC. Take a look at the odds for this year's tournament, and then read on to find out what you need to know so you won't miss a single game of the 2026 NBA finals. 

How to watch the New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA finals:

Date: June 13, 2026

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

Location: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX

TV channel: ABC

Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, DirecTV and more

New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs game channel:

Game 5 and every other game of the NBA finals will be broadcast on ABC.

How to watch the Knicks vs. Spurs without cable:

Games on ABC are also streaming on ESPN Unlimited. You can find all ABC on streaming platforms like DirecTV and YouTube TV.

More ways to watch the NBA finals:

2026 NBA Finals Schedule:

• June 3: Game 1: New York Knicks (105) vs. (95) San Antonio Spurs

• June 5: Game 2: New York Knicks (105) vs. (104) San Antonio Spurs

• June 8: Game 3: New York Knicks (111) vs. (115) San Antonio Spurs

• June 10: Game 4: New York Knicks (107) vs. (106) San Antonio Spurs

• June 13: Game 5: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET

• June 16: Game 6: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

• June 19: Game 7: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs on ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET (if necessary)

Long before OG Anunoby was rescuing the Knicks in the NBA Finals, he was the quiet kid wandering the halls of Indiana University and showing up at frat parties in Bloomington, Ind.

Now, as the 27-year-old forward powers New York’s championship chase, Hoosier alumni say they’re watching one of their own become a Knicks legend.

To Indiana University grads living in the city, he’s still the soft-spoken but hilarious, Young Thug-loving student who hung out at tailgates long before he became one of the NBA’s premier two-way players.

Anunoby, who starred under then-coach Tom Crean at Indiana from 2015-17 before launching an NBA career, has become an unlikely crossover hero for New Yorkers with Hoosier roots. For alumni who also happen to be lifelong Knicks fans, watching a Bloomington favorite thrive at Madison Square Garden feels almost too perfect.

“OG was one of the first people I ever met on the Bloomington campus in 2015,” said Jason Morrin, a 28-year-old former student who recalls meeting the basketball star during orientation, saying he was extremely friendly.

Morrin told The Post that at the time, Anunoby was close with current Cavaliers center Thomas Bryant.

“The two of them together made for quite the party. TB really brought OG out of his shell,” Morrin said.

Even as a freshman playing in Assembly Hall, his potential was evident to students who regarded him as one of the most athletically gifted players on the hardwood.

“It is surreal to watch him put everything together now for my beloved Knicks,” the New Yorker said. “He is forever a New York and Bloomington legend.”

Josh Lomita remembers Anunoby from the freshman dorms and says he was always a fan favorite.

The 29-year-old New Yorker, who got to watch him play for a year in Bloomington, said his trade to the Knicks was “the best reunion.”

“It’s a full-circle storybook moment,” Lomita told The Post. “We are Knicks season ticket holders for 14 years, but lifelong fans. We lived through the darkest days of sports fandom.

“To have a player as special on both sides of the floor as OG is indescribable. Watching his tip shot fall produced an out-of-body experience. Whatever he wants in this city is his for life. Quite frankly, we should give him the key to the city and make him mayor.”

Off the court, Anunoby had a reputation for being just as approachable as he was talented, especially when he showed up at Zeta Beta Tau fraternity parties — and never turned down a photo with anyone who asked.

“Watching him party at the frat and seeing the other side of him was amazing,” Lomita said. “He used to put girls on his shoulders in the middle of the mosh pits during tailgates.”

There is something special about being both a Hoosier basketball fan and a Knicks fan, two teams that experienced historic greatness followed by a long period of struggle, only to find greatness again in recent years.

For Dylan Leist, 29, Anunoby’s rise has linked two fan bases that know plenty about long waits for championships.

“Watching OG from college to the pros has been nothing short of incredible. From the Tom Crean days to now, his special talent has transformed the Knicks in a way that I have never seen,” said former Hoosier Leist. “OG’s journey as a fan of both the Hoosiers and the Knicks has been an honor to witness.”

Even after reaching the NBA, former classmates say Anunoby never changed.

Morrin said the pair stayed in touch after graduation and even reunited after a 2017 Knicks-Raptors game.

“OG always had the ability to make everyone feel special,” Lomita said.

“He never thought he was better than anyone else. He was just OG.”

San Antonio; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -5.5; over/under is 216.5

NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 3-1

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the NBA Finals. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 107-106 in the last matchup on Thursday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, and Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 24.

The Spurs have gone 32-8 in home games. San Antonio ranks ninth in the league with 28.1 assists per game. Stephon Castle leads the Spurs averaging 7.4.

The Knicks are 23-19 on the road. New York is eighth in the Eastern Conference with 27.4 assists per game led by Brunson averaging 6.8.

The Spurs make 48.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than the Knicks have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Knicks average 5.0 more points per game (116.5) than the Spurs give up (111.5).

TOP PERFORMERS: Wembanyama is shooting 51.2% and averaging 25.0 points for the Spurs. Devin Vassell is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game with 3.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 16.0 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 4-6, averaging 108.7 points, 44.2 rebounds, 23.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points per game.

Knicks: 9-1, averaging 115.5 points, 45.8 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.6 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

Knicks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

SAN ANTONIO — OG Anunoby was the star, his flying tip-in of a Jalen Brunson missed 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left capping a comeback for the ages. But there were so many pivotal moments and unsung stars in the Knicks rally from 29 points down in their pulsating Game 4 victory. 

The Post takes a look back at how it all went down: 

KAT’s timely deflection 

The Garden was abuzz, thinking Anunoby had just brought the Knicks to within one win of their first championship in 53 years. But the Spurs still had a chance, inbounding the ball with 1.2 seconds to go. Stephon Castle shook free for a potential alley-oop, but Dylan Harper’s inbounds pass was deflected by Towns, and Castle couldn’t get off a shot. After being limited by foul trouble in the first half, Towns was solid over the final 24 minutes, producing seven points, seven rebounds and two assists. 

MSG Rims 

The Garden rims were kind to the Knicks on two specific occasions. The first instance involved Anunoby. His stepback 3 hit off the front rim, the backboard and dropped, cutting the deficit to 15 with just under a minute left in the third quarter. The second one came with 9:15 to go and the Knicks down 20. Jose Alvarado’s left corner 3 rolled around the rim, off the glass and fell. 

Backup’s star turn 

Knicks coach Mike Brown closed with Alvarado, and the reserve point guard excelled. He scored five consecutive Knicks points in the fourth quarter — a driving layup and a 3-pointer — that made it a four-point game with 3:07 remaining. Both baskets followed field goals by the Spurs, which kept momentum on the Knicks’ side. 

Fox’s blunder 

De’Aaron Fox’s decision to attack the basket rather than eat up precious seconds of the clock and wait to be fouled was a boneheaded mistake. After a Brunson miss with the Spurs up one point, there was a scramble for the rebound. Fox got to it first in the backcourt with roughly 12 seconds left. He went in for the layup, but was rejected by Anunoby. Fox had a terrible second half, shooting 2-for-8 from the field and committing four turnovers. 

Johnson’s costly decisions 

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson made two moves he likely regrets. The first one was playing Victor Wembanyama all but 50 seconds of the second half. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman was clearly fatigued late and not only missed 11 of 14 shots over the final two quarters, but also missed two critical free throws with 1:47 remaining. The second was not guarding the inbounder on the Knicks’ final possession. Anunoby threw the ball in to Brunson, and nobody was there to block him out on the game-winning tip-in. 

A key successful challenge 

Early in the fourth quarter, the Spurs inbounded the ball to Wembanyama. He was stripped, and the initial ruling gave San Antonio possession. Coach Mike Brown, advised by assistant coach Jordan Brink, challenged the call and won.

In a split second, De’Aaron Fox became the basketball world’s object of consternation. The foil. The antihero. 

It happened with less than 15 seconds left and the Spurs up 106-105. Victor Wembanyama got a defensive stop against Jalen Brunson, and Fox tipped the rebound to himself. 

What he did next will surely haunt him. 

After chasing the ball downcourt, Fox had a decision to make. Use the clock. Or go for a layup. 

He’s fast. He believed in himself. He decided to go for what he thought would be a sure-fire way to give the Spurs a three-point lead. A layup is easier to make than two free throws, after all. 

Except he miscalculated things. 

OG Anunoby met him in the paint. As Fox elevated with 11 seconds left, Anunoby made the block of his life. 

That mistake kicked open the door for the Knicks to complete the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, storming back from a 29-point deficit to win Game 4 on Wednesday, 107-106. 

The Knicks found themselves with possession of the ball. They had a relative eternity on the clock. They had a chance to clinch the game. 

Brunson attempted a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left that rimmed out. Fox, who had left Anunoby to double-team the Knicks star, then watched his man cut through the lane, elevate and tip in the ball with 1.2 seconds remaining. 

So many things went wrong for the Spurs in a hellish fourth quarter. This wasn’t Fox’s fault. It takes all five guys on the court to blow a 29-point lead, as well as the guy at the helm. But in a collapse so big, on this stage, the world needs to blame someone. 

If Fox had made the layup, he would’ve been the hero. 

But the gamble didn’t go his way. 

So instead, that play has landed him in the eye of the storm. He’s now the face of a collapse so large that it will be talked about for generations. It’s not fair. But it’s basketball. Just ask JR Smith.

The 28-year-old Fox is a veteran point guard. The Spurs traded for him in February 2025 because they trusted him to shepherd the team in clutch moments. He signed a four-year, $229 million extension with the team in August. 

Fox had a fraction of a second to make a decision. In this case, with the world watching, he happened to make the wrong one. 

“I just thought I’d be able to outrun him,” Fox said of Anunoby. “That’s it.”

For the Spurs, this series has been defined by a series of little mistakes that have had monumental consequences. 

In Game 2, Wembanyama was the fall guy after he committed a turnover with 12.7 seconds left in the Spurs’ 105-104 loss. 

On Wednesday, it was Fox’s turn to have the world point its finger at him, ring bells and chant “shame.”

Sure, Wembanyama missed two free throws with 1:47 left and the Spurs up 104-103. Sure, the Spurs went cold in the second half, shooting just 20.5 percent from the field. Fox was just a piece of the puzzle.

But his mistake was the most memorable. It was the easiest to highlight. 

The funny thing is, Fox was a hero of sorts in Game 3 after he made a jumper with 12 seconds left to help lift the Spurs to a 115-111 win. He came through when it mattered most. 

But two days later, the opposite was true. 

Overall, Fox has had a rough series. The two-time All-Star is averaging just 14.3 points over the last four games, less than half as much as his Knicks counterpart Brunson, who’s averaging 29.5 points. 

In Game 4, Fox had 18 points (but it took him 16 shots to get them), seven assists and five rebounds. He also had four turnovers, including a glaring one with two minutes left and the Spurs up 104-103 when he essentially threw the ball to Josh Hart.

You want to root for Fox. It was tough to watch. He’s sacrificing his own stats while playing alongside Wembanyama. He’s a guy who truly cares about winning above all else. 

But Fox is now firmly in the bullseye of a catastrophe that has transfixed the sports world. This game will be talked about forever. It instantly became a classic.

The Knicks are one win away from their first championship since 1973. Meanwhile, the Spurs have squandered two games by final-second errors, most recently at the hands of their point guard who was supposed to steady them in these moments.

Fox isn’t the reason why the Spurs lost Game 4. Far from it. This collapse was so much bigger than him. San Antonio was outscored in the fourth quarter, 32-16. Everyone is at fault for this disaster. 

But Fox’s blunder was the most stunning. 

It’s universally accepted that with such little time on the clock and such a paper-thin lead, the best thing to do is dribble. Let time pass. Incite panic. Draw the foul. Steal time from the opponent. Close their window to score. 

But Fox took a risk on the league’s biggest stage.

And it really didn’t work out. 

There were roughly 19,812 screaming as one — “O-G! O-G! O-G!” — family, friends and strangers who made no distinction, processing the unimaginable, releasing avalanches, tidal waves and mountains of emotions, inspired by 53 years of close calls and bad calls, of decades as a punchline and a punching bag, of a love that was rarely reciprocated and a hope that was never rewarded.

They stayed in their seats long after the final buzzer screamed victory, unwilling to leave the dream. They continued chanting through the concourses, down the escalators and outside nearby bars — “O-G! O-G! O-G!” — sporting jerseys that span the eras, smoking blue and orange vapes in a semicircle of ecstasy, making out as if V-J Day was just declared.

Inside the Knicks locker room, there was quiet.

Roughly 20 minutes had passed since OG Anunoby followed a game-saving block by sprinting to the rim and soaring through the lane for the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, capping a record-setting 29-point comeback and putting the Knicks one win from their first title since 1973.

Anunoby had delivered the most important shot in Knicks history, overcome the constant injuries that capped his potential and rewarded the team that saw a soft-spoken role player in Canada as someone built for Broadway.

New York’s new hero sat at his locker, alone, icing both knees, looking through his phone as if the day had just begun, as if he didn’t just create one of the most iconic moments in the history of the most iconic arena, as if he didn’t yet realize his name will be lifted to the rafters with one more win.

Even in triumph, even on the receiving end of unending adulation, Anunoby stayed on-brand, displaying an expression that won’t reveal if he has a royal flush or a busted straight, speaking as if he’s charged by the word, more focused on the next play than the one that changed his life.

But he doesn’t have a say in what comes next. The spotlight he never sought has found a new home, stitched now and forever to the owner of two letters they’ll be chanting for years to come.

“OG is just, he’s unique,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said during this postseason run. “He’s special.”

Ogugua Anunoby was born in London on July 17, 1997, to parents of Nigerian descent. His mother, Grace, was a track and field star in her homeland, who died of cancer before Anunoby turned 1. His father, Ogugua Sr., raised seven children — including Anunoby’s older brother, Chigbo, who was a defensive lineman in the NFL — teaching at universities in Nigeria and England before moving the family to Missouri when Anunoby was 4 to become a professor of business and finance at Lincoln University.

“I do not intend to be immodest, but we tried to raise a proper family,” Ogugua Sr. told Sportsnet in 2017. “And when I say proper, what I mean is we are people who do things well. We value hard work, order and success. You don’t talk unless you have to talk. And if you have to talk, you should say something that doesn’t take away from the conversation, but enriches it.”

During Anunoby’s rookie season in Toronto in 2018, his father died in his sleep, at 66.

“It was tough not having a mother, but my dad did a really good job raising us,” Anunoby told Sportsnet at the 2017 NBA Draft.

Anunoby excelled in baseball — and was a big fan of the Carlos Delgado-era Mets — football and track, but was drawn to basketball, begging his father to buy a high-priced hoop for their Jefferson City home when he was 8.

Dr. Anunoby — who demanded his children read for at least one hour every night — complied, as long as it was put to good use.

“My dad always taught me discipline and to do everything with my best effort, to always do things on time and be respectful in everything I do,” Anunoby told the London Evening Standard in 2017. “My whole family is big on that so it’s very important to me and I try to do it in everything.”

Anunoby was a relatively unknown star at Jefferson City High School, outside the top 250 players in national recruiting rankings. He was a three-star, 6-foot-8 prospect who played in the shadow of AAU teammate Jayson Tatum and was left off the program of a tournament attended by Tom Crean, leaving Indiana’s coaching staff scrambling to learn the identity of the physical and explosive wing with an invisible ceiling.

“[He is] a quiet killer,” Crean, his former college coach, told The Post after Anunoby joined the Knicks. “He’s an old soul in a lot of ways, a very caring person, but he has got an incredible drive. I’d almost say it’s an insatiable drive to be great and to win.”

Anunoby spent two years with the Hoosiers, but saw his final season cut short after he suffered a torn ACL, resulting in the potential lottery selection falling to the Raptors with the 23rd overall pick.

In his second pro season, Anunoby earned a championship ring in Toronto, but missed the entire postseason run after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

“I believe that created an incredible hunger for him because he wasn’t on the court for it,” Crean said. “It’s almost like, yeah, he got the ring and was a big part of it all season, but in his own mind, he didn’t feel the level of winning it.

“He was around the team and he’d been instrumental in getting to that point, but he wasn’t out there on the court at the end, and I think that’s what he truly wants more than anything else. That’s where that drive is for him.”

Anunoby’s 240-pound frame seemed chiseled from concrete, but it was constantly crumbling. Injuries limited him to an average of less than 53 games in the three seasons before the Raptors sent him to New York for former No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett, Knicks fan favorite Immanuel Quickley and a second-round pick.

The Knicks were 17-15 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference when Anunoby debuted with the Knicks on Jan. 1, 2024. They went 12-2 in his first 14 games in the lineup before an elbow injury sidelined him for nearly two months.

Anunoby returned in time to help the Knicks take a 2-0 second-round series lead against the Pacers, but he suffered a hamstring injury that sparked a Knicks tailspin, keeping him sidelined until he hobbled through five minutes of an excruciating Game 7 loss at the Garden.

The Knicks locked up Anunoby that offseason to a five-year, $212.5 million deal (the largest in team history), tying their title hopes to an injury-prone wing who had never been an All-Star.

Anunoby matched a career high by playing 74 games last season and set a personal best with 18 points per game, helping the Knicks make the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century. This season, Anunoby hit nearly 39 percent of his 3-pointers, while being selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team.

“OG is someone who brings it every night, does what’s asked of him, plus more,” Jalen Brunson said after the Game 4 win. “His work ethic, since the moment I’ve been teammates with him and seen him, has grown. His confidence has grown just because of his work ethic, everything that I’ve seen, he’s got exponentially better at.

“So regardless of what the outside world thinks of him, we know what we have in our locker room. And we have a superstar in that locker room.”

Anunoby’s importance has long been understood at the Garden, where fans emphatically assist PA announcer Mike Walczewski’s booming introduction of a player whose numbers will never convey the value of someone whose 7-foot-2 wingspan and basketball IQ impact every possession.

“He does everything,” Landry Shamet said in the locker room. “He’s a virtuoso.”

Anunoby was the Knicks’ best player during their first-round comeback against the Hawks, but he suffered a hamstring injury in Game 2 of the second-round series against the 76ers, threatening to derail another deep run. But the 28-year-old was back for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, contributing nine points, three rebounds and a steal in the overtime of what was then the biggest playoff comeback in team history.

Entering Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, Anunoby ranks second on the Knicks in scoring (20.7), third in rebounds (6.2), second in steals (1.4) and second in blocks (1.1) in the postseason, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field and a team-best 50.6 percent on 3-pointers.

“He’s unbelievable,” Mikal Bridges said. “He’s different, man.”

He is forever different, forever elevated, forever linked to Willis Reed and Larry Johnson. He is the one who made Manhattan shake, the author of the improbable, who took a sledgehammer to Charles Smith’s layups and Patrick Ewing’s finger roll, who called for the ball, then backed up Captain Clutch, flying through the air and parting the clouds to grab a rebound that’s been out of reach for 53 years and put it home.

The legend has spoken — two letters to stand the test of time.

“Every time I talk to him, I say, I already know what OG Anunoby is going to do in the fourth quarter, and he did exactly what I thought he would do,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you could ask for from the best two-way player in the NBA.”

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay can do it all.

Right after starring in the one-person show “Every Brilliant Thing,” the actress ran about 10 blocks to make it to Game 4 of the NBA Finals on time.

“I took four minutes off the running time of my show, and I knew the traffic would be crazy, so I sprinted from the Hudson Theater on 44th and 6th to MSG,” Hargitay, the Knicks superfan, wrote in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

“But I knew everything was going to be alright, because I was wearing my Jalen Brunson Kobe 5 Protos that Jalen gave me a few months ago.”

Hargitay’s show had a 2 p.m. matinee and a 7 p.m. evening performance on Wednesday before the Knicks game.

The late show ended at 8:27 p.m., just three minutes before Game 5 was supposed to start.

After arriving at the game just before tip-off, Hargitay changed into a blue-and-orange shirt that read “Stevie Knicks” to match her seatmate, Taylor Swift.

“I love my husband, and our wedding night was great and all, but I think it might have been the greatest night of my life,” Hargitay said.

The SVU actress has been courtside at multiple games throughout the Knicks’ playoff run, largely due to her surprising relationship with star guard Jalen Brunson.

The former Villanova Wildcat grew up watching SVU with his dad, and now watches the show to calm himself down before games.

Through Brunson, Hargitay has gotten to know multiple Knicks and was seen hugging them on the court after they pulled off the largest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday.

“The game was so brutal, down 29 at the half, but I’m telling you, to watch this team fight and claw their way back — to see that look in Jalen’s eyes — there are just endless life lessons in there,” Hargitay said.

“And then OG comes flying in, his orange and blue cape fluttering behind him, and then it’s just pandemonium.

“It‘ll get replayed again and again, not just as an epic moment in basketball, but on the highlight reel of the best moments in sports. And all I could think was ‘THAT JUST HAPPENED!!!’ And ‘OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!”’ And ‘OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS CITY!!!’”

When a writer tells a story from beginning to end, proceeding in order, it is called linear narrative or chronological narrative. More formally, it’s referred to as ab ovo narration (Latin for “from the egg”), a term from Horace’s Ars Poetica, meaning the story begins at the very origin of events and unfolds in sequence.

Conversely, starting from the end and working backward is called reverse chronological narrative or simply reverse chronology. A famous example is the film Memento.

But when a story opens specifically at the ending or a dramatic moment and then explains how events led there, it’s often described as beginning in extremis or using an analepsis (a flashback structure).

Yesterday, I was at work and could not watch the game live. My plan was to head home, retreat into my bubble, and watch it from beginning to end. Unfortunately, a friend texted me the score at half-time. I was annoyed and asked for no further updates, but at the same time, it felt good. Our Spurs were leading by 27 at half-time at the MSG, in the pivotal Game 4. We were on our way back to San Antonio with a chance to restore home-court advantage.

When I got home, I decided to tune in from the start of the 3^rd quarter. I didn’t feel I needed to revisit the first two quarters to understand how we’d built such a momentous lead, one that could have written NBA history, and so I bypassed this beginning in extremis…

I suppose you all know the ending anyway, no spoiler needed here. But the real question is no longer the result; it’s how we got there. How do you end up on the wrong side of history in just two quarters when, just 24 minutes earlier, you were firmly on the right side of it?

My disappointment, let’s be honest, my fury, was overwhelming last night. I could barely sleep. So I decided to rewatch the game in full, this time with a linear narrative.

Before I get to the autopsy, though, I need to share a conversation I had with a friend in the hours before tip-off. I tried to explain how difficult it is to predict outcomes in basketball, but that it is sometimes possible to foresee the conditions that shape them. I pointed out that Karl-Anthony Towns was due for a bounce-back game, if Jalen Brunson could find ways to involve him more. KAT can direct the offense from the top of the key like almost no other player on the Knicks, and his elite three-point shooting makes him a genuine triple threat. However, I also noted that Brunson had been quite stubborn in this series, grinding to draw fouls through heavy dribbling in traffic which had led to turnovers and low shooting efficiency. The player I singled out as the most dangerous Knick was OG Anunoby. And finally, I voiced my concern about Victor: he had logged heavy minutes and would likely run out of gas in the second half. That, I feared, could determine the outcome, though I still expected the Spurs to win, by three.

As it turned out, KAT removed himself from the equation with two very quick fouls. The young Spurs exploited this early and took flight. Mike Brown threw everything at Victor Wembanyama, Mitchell Robinson (literally), Ariel Hukporti, and even Jeremy Sochan but none of it stopped the first-half onslaught.

From the end of the first quarter through to the end of the third, the Spurs’ lead sat between 19 and 15 points, with a peak of 29. During that entire stretch, Victor Wembanyama played 32 of a possible 36 minutes. I’ll come back to that shortly.

The first three quarters unfolded much like the rest of this playoff run. Anyone can push, shove, and grab Victor with relative impunity. The Spurs accepted this reality some time back and decided to apply the same treatment to Karl-Anthony Towns. The reasoning is simple: if refs were to whistle this type of plays in favor of KAT, they would have to do the same for Vic.

As a basketball fan, I am growing genuinely disillusioned with NBA officiating. On one side, you have players like Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and, to some extent, Jalen Brunson, who rely heavily on theatrics to earn calls in their favour. On the other, you have blatant physical intimidation that diminishes KAT and Vic’s impact and, in turn, the quality, flow, and fairness of the game. Mobile bigs who can shoot the three, rebound, dribble, and pass bring something genuinely special to the modern NBA, something that studio personalities like Shaq and Charles Barkley seem incapable of appreciating, apparently out of jealousy.

Victor Wembanyama has been on the receiving end of this treatment throughout the entire playoffs. And we have also come to understand that Vic is troubled by what he perceives as persistent injustice. Under fatigue and pressure, he has repeatedly crossed lines: a Flagrant 2 on Naz Reid, a shove on Brunson, and taunting Mitchell Robinson early in this game. The pattern is clear, a tired and frustrated Victor struggles to keep his emotions in check. The coaching staff and front office have surely taken note.

The other major lesson of this playoff run concerns Victor’s stamina. It is genuinely remarkable that a 7’5 player who was struggling to play more than 28–30 minutes earlier in the season can now sustain 35 and beyond. Full credit to Vic and his training staff. That kind of physical progression ahead of a Finals run is extraordinary. However, it is equally clear that Vic, who deploys enormous energy on both ends of the floor, often arrives at the fourth quarter running on empty. We know he needs to impose himself early: the alley-oops, the drives, the post positioning if the Spurs want to start strong. And the Spurs have indeed managed by leads in the opening of each of their four Finals games in that way. But Vic also needs reserves to close games when it matters, as Game 2 demonstrated all too painfully.

Which brings me to my central grievance with last night’s loss: the management of Victor’s minutes. It is absolutely unimaginable that the coaching staff had Vic on the floor for 32 minutes across the first three quarters while the lead was never below double digits. To claim that Kornet is unplayable is an insult to the man. Is Kornet less playable than Ariel Hukporti? Than Sochan? And what about Harrison Barnes? The Spurs were up 29 at some point and he didn’t see a single minute?

The irony of Mitch Johnson’s minute management against the Knicks is almost too rich. Tom Thibodeau was held responsible for New York’s “disappointing” seasons between 2023 and 2025. The charge? He ran his players into the ground with relentless minutes and short rotations.

Having watched enough of Mitch Johnson in these playoffs, I am convinced he needs to learn how to better manage his rotation, before his star player ends up injured.

This loss falls squarely on the coaching staff, and on Mitch Johnson above all. We now know Vic cannot play 44 minutes and sustain the same intensity on both ends of the floor. We also know that an exhausted Vic is a less composed Vic and that composure is precisely what leads to flagrant fouls. One more, and he faces a one-game suspension.

With a 27-point lead at half-time, and a double-digit advantage held for more than 32 consecutive minutes, the decision to deny Victor Wembanyama meaningful rest before the fourth quarter was a massive mistake.

There’s a reason I titled this piece after Justine Triet’s Palme d’Or-winning film. Anatomy of a Fall opens with a man already dead at the foot of a chalet, and spends two and a half hours asking a single question: how did we get here? The courtroom never delivers a clean verdict. The film trusts you to sit with the ambiguity. Last night’s Game 4 offers no such comfort, the verdict was final, the scoreboard unambiguous. But the question is the same. A 29-point lead. Two quarters. A fall. How did we get here? Mitch Johnson owes us an answer. It is not a trial. I expect a reaction and some changes.

I still believe. 

Spurs in 7.

Courtside tickets for the NBA Finals were selling for as much as $200,000 in New York. 

It only cost Karl-Anthony Towns two quick fouls to have the best seat in the house for a half, as the New York Knicks center got into early foul trouble against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

With the series swinging back to San Antonio, my Knicks vs. Spurs predictions take the 7-footer to find his postseason form in Game 5. Find out why in my NBA picks for June 13.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 5 prediction

Knicks vs Spurs best bet: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points (+100)

Karl-Anthony Towns sat for most of the first half of Game 4 but was ready to roll in the second half, playing 18 of 24 minutes.

His offense, however, was understandably spotty, and much like Game 3, Towns couldn’t get into a rhythm. Mike Brown’s plan for Game 4 was to get Towns going early, but that went out the window.

I’m not backing off KAT in Game 5. He salvaged 13 points Wednesday, not too short of his total of 17.5, considering the circumstances. 

Projections sit as high as 21+ with my number at 18.7 points, which should have Over 17.5 listed at -118.

COVERS INTEL:Towns’ usage was at 23.5% in his limited time in the first half of Game 4, in which he scored six points in just eight minutes. That’s higher than his average usage of 19.9% in the first two games in San Antonio, when KAT finished with 18 and 21 points.

Knicks vs Spurs Game 5 same-game parlay

The San Antonio Spurs’ inexperience has them backed into a 3-1 hole, but that youth could also be a strength in this spot. San Antonio is just young and dumb enough to shake Game 4.

The extended two-day break also works in their favor, especially when it comes to recharging Victor Wembanyama’s draining batteries. He looked tired and passive in the second half Wednesday. 

The Spurs have had the New York Knicks by the throat several times in the series and have shown resiliency enough in the playoffs, going 7-2 SU and ATS off a loss. They might not cover a bigger number, but can stay alive in Game 5.

Towns was passive in Game 3 and then got two quick whistles to ice his offense in Game 4. Mike Brown wants to run his offense through KAT, and we’ll see that in Game 5... as long as the refs don’t get trigger-happy.

Towns looked great in San Antonio in the opening two games, and his scoring prop is providing great value, with projections calling for 21+ points on Saturday.

Much like KAT, Stephon Castle got into foul trouble and couldn’t find his stroke in Game 4, shooting just 2-for-7 from the field. He kept attacking and knocked down all eight of his free-throw attempts.

Castle finished with 13 points in just 26 minutes — tying his second-lowest action in the postseason. Game 5 models sit as high as 19 points from the Spurs guard, given his standard floor time.

Knicks vs Spurs SGP

• Spurs moneyline
• Karl-Anthony Towns Over 17.5 points
• Stephon Castle Over 16.5 points

Knicks vs Spurs odds for Game 5

• Spread: Knicks +5.5 | Spurs -5.5
• Moneyline: Knicks +170 | Spurs -205
• Over/Under: Over 216.5 | Under 216.5

Knicks vs Spurs betting trend to know

The Under is 1-3 in the 2026 NBA Finals heading into Game 5, with the total sitting at 216.5 O/U. The Under has been the correct side of the total, with finals games going 45-69 O/U since the 2005-06 season (60.5%). Find more NBA betting trends for Knicks vs. Spurs.

How to watch Knicks vs Spurs Game 5

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The Golden State Warriors have seemingly been in conversations to make a splash move this offseason. The question that remains is, what exactly will they do?

They're apparently out of the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. There was chatter of a home run attempt to bring LeBron James to the Bay to team up with Stephen Curry, but ESPN NBA insider Marc J. Spears also appeared to shoot that notion down during a radio appearance on the "Willard and Dibs" show on the Bay Area's 95.7 The Game.

"Somebody that would know that's close to (James) suggested to me that he thought he was staying in Los Angeles," Spears said.

Spears said that the Warriors would need to get creative to bring another veteran to their organization. He threw out numerous names Golden State should target, players he believed could help improve the Warriors going into next season.

"You got to see if you could move up in the draft, just got to see what you can potentially do," Spears said. "Is Anthony Davis available? Would (the) Warriors want somebody like that, like Kyrie Irving? I've been watching these videos lately. He looks amazing. I'm not sure if Dallas wants to keep him or not, although Masai (Ujiri) sounds like he does. New Orleans is always looking to retool."

One of the main things Spears suggested the Warriors should do is bring back unrestricted free agent center Kristaps Porzingis, who they acquired in a February trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Jonathan Kuminga, and Draymond Green, the heart and soul of their team.

"I think the thing with (GM Mike) Dunleavy, just going to have to sit down with him and Larry Harris, the rest of their crew, and just be really creative," Spears said. "I do think they should try to bring Kristaps, obviously Draymond back, and all that, but I do think it's going to be on the Warriors front office to come up with something creative to help put them back in the mix."

IRVINE, California – The Knicks have stunned the sports world, on the brink of an upset championship.

New Yorker and diehard Knicks fan Tyler Adams says he’s drawing inspiration from his hometown team – and his U.S. National Team could follow in their footsteps as a World Cup underdog.

“That’s what I love about being from New York is the character, the personality,” Adams said when asked by the Post about the Knicks. “So as a kid from New York – obviously not the city, but just in general – I feel like you always have your back up against the wall. That’s just about proving people wrong.”

The Knicks were a longshot, with no NBA champion in the last 40 years holding longer title odds at the start of the playoffs.

Team USA will be World Cup longshots themselves when they kick off Friday against Paraguay at So-Fi Stadium. Asked if they can follow the Knicks’ blueprint, Adams said “I don’t know; hopefully. Hopefully we can do something special.”

What the Knicks did went beyond special, to unprecedented. They pulled off the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history, overturning a 29-point deficit to win Game 4 at the Garden on Wednesday night.

Members of the U.S. National Team watched the game on TV, and in a video of them celebrating after OG Anunoby’s miraculous tipin, Adams – who is from Wappinger and came up through the New York Red Bulls organization – can be seen clambering on top of a couch multiple times in barely-recalled euphoria.

“I don’t even remember I blacked out, I’m not gonna lie,” said Adams.

“I’m not gonna lie; after the first first half I turned it off, because I was like ‘maybe it’s me that’s watching that. They’re just not playing well.’ I feel like every time I turn it off, they start to win. And I told everyone if they get it within ten points, anything can happen. And yeah, I wasn’t expecting that man. It was crazy.”

So would a deep U.S. run, having only won three games total in the last five World Cups combined. But Adams said if the underdog Knicks can mount a historic comeback with a miraculous game-winner – and stand one victory away from a title – then Team USA can take inspiration.

Even if some are Knicks haters.

“It’s pretty captivating. I think them being the underdog coming out of the East and doing something special as they’re doing right now, I take inspiration to it. But I’m a New York Knick fan. Not everyone’s a New York Knicks fan,” said Adams.

“Brenden Aaronson; the worst. He’s a Sixers fan, he can’t say anything. Haji Wright, big hater right now. But I love all that energy. It’s good.”

The Knicks are one game away from winning their first NBA championship in 53 years after their instant classic comeback win against the Spurs on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

While all of the World’s Most Famous Arena was rocking after OG Abunoby’s heroic tip-in during the final seconds, nobody was probably more relieved than star guard Jalen Brunson’s wife, Ali Marks Brunson.

Ali seems to believe she has a hand in her husband making his shots, which she conveyed during a conversation with Josh Hart’s wife, Shannon, as part of an Instagram video posted on Thursday.

The two Knicks teammates and Villanova alums notably have a podcast together, “Roommates Show.”

At one point in their discussion about their NBA Finals experience, Shannon said: “I feel like every time [Hart] misses, I’m looking at him. So I’m looking at him until the ball is released from his hands, and then I see if it goes in.”

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Ali replied: “I try to match my breath up to [Brunson’s] breath… And then, when he shoots, I go—” before mimicking a shooting motion with her hand.

She then added, “Every time I do it, it goes in. And sometimes, I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m not gonna do it this time.’ And he misses!”

New York was down by a staggering 29 points at one point during the second half of Game 4, but managed to claw their way back to the point where they had a lead late in the fourth quarter.

The game looked like it would come down to a missed 3-pointer from Brunson before Anunoby produced a miraculous tip-in off Brunson’s miss that led to a 107-106 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Whether or not Ali did the shooting motion on that play didn’t matter as Anunoby came to the rescue.

The Knicks will have a chance to close out the series on Saturday night in San Antonio.

Larry David put into words what Jerry Seinfeld’s viral facial expression was saying after OG Anunoby cemented himself in New York sports history and the Knicks pulled off a comeback win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night. 

The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star and “Seinfeld” co-creator sounded like every other Knicks fan as he talked to The Post’s Mike Vaccaro on Thursday, still trying to process what he saw in the second half as the Knicks mounted a historic comeback against the Spurs to go up 3-1 in the series. 

“It was hard for me to believe that I — and I would italicize the ‘I’ if I knew how — that I could witness that,” David said. “I’m supposed to miss games and moments like that. That’s what I was thinking.” 

David went viral for his reaction to Josh Hart’s missed layup late in the final quarter, which would have given the Knicks the lead. On Thursday, John McEnroe appeared on ESPN and revealed that David had suggested leaving when the Knicks trailed big. 

The actor and writer was still in shock Thursday, telling The Post that “Jack Buck’s words were exactly what I was saying,” referring to the famous call on CBS radio of Dodgers outfielder Kirk Gibson’s iconic walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series. 

Anunoby and the Knicks had close to a walk-off moment on Wednesday night when he inbounded the ball to Jalen Brunson with mere seconds on the clock and then made his way down the lane to reach the ball after a missed 3-point attempt, tipping the ball in for the game-winning bucket. 

The victory puts the Knicks on the verge of their first NBA title since 1973. 

“I’ve never felt the energy in a crowd at Madison Square [Garden],” McEnroe said on “NBA Today” Thursday. “We used to play a big tennis event there [the season-ending Masters], and nothing’s ever come close to that.

“No one left after an hour.” 

SAN ANTONIO — Before Game 4, Mike Brown was asked about the offensive tweak he made in the first round of the playoffs and if he would consider something similar in the NBA Finals. 

“You always keep trying to find ways to make adjustments,” the first-year Knicks coach said. “Sometimes they’re subtle. Sometimes they’re big. That’s what our job is as a staff, is to keep trying to help our players as much as possible.”

This was a radical change, much like the decision to play through Karl-Anthony Towns on offense against the Hawks. 

In 17 playoff games, Jalen Brunson and Jose Alvarado didn’t share the court once. They did play together some during the regular season, and they had success. Across 114 minutes spanning 14 games, the Knicks outscored the opposition by 15.8 points per 100 possessions. 

In Game 4 of the Finals, with the Knicks down big and in danger of blowing a 2-0 lead in the series, Brown paired the two small guards again. 

It worked better than anyone could have anticipated, a major factor in their Finals-record comeback from 29 points down. In the 12 minutes they shared the court, the Knicks outscored the Spurs by a whopping 21 points. 

“I think he did a great job of coming in and changing the game,” Brunson said. 

Alvarado, the gritty 6-foot guard from Brooklyn, scored eight big points in the win, all coming in the second half, and added three assists and two rebounds.

He alleviated ballhandling responsibilities for Brunson against the Spurs pressure and gave the Knicks another player capable of breaking down San Antonio’s defense. 

“Jose has been good in the pick-and-roll. Jose has been good touching the paint, and if Jalen wanted to get off the ball for a few possessions, Jose could handle it, and he could touch the paint and make the game easier for others,” Brown said. “If Jalen was on the ball and the ball got sprayed and it found Jose, Jose can then touch the paint with his speed. So that’s all I was trying to do, is see if we can touch the paint a little bit more with the two guards out there while the floor was spaced the right way.”

Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride and Landry Shamet were all struggling, so Brown took a shot.

One thing Alvarado has established since his arrival from the Pelicans in early April is he has no fear of the moment.

That was evident in Game 1 when he came up big when Brunson left the game with a right knee injury, and it was clear in the dramatic fourth-quarter rally, Alvarado scoring five big points in a row for the Knicks to cut the deficit to four with 3:07 remaining. 

“Him just being himself,” Brunson said, “propelled us to a win.”

Wait… the refs helped the Knicks?

The NBA two-minute report for Game 4 of the NBA Finals revealed that Josh Hart fouled the Spurs’ Stephon Castle on the baseline with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter, meaning it should have stayed Spurs basketball.

The play, which happened after San Antonio had already blown a 29-point lead and was trailing 105-104, saw Castle drive the baseline against Hart and eventually be called out of bounds.

Not only did further replay show he may never have stepped out, but it also showed Hart being physical with the rookie guard all the way to the basket.

“Hart impedes Castle on his drive as Castle is incorrectly called for committing and out-of-bounds violation,” the report read.

On the court, the refs called it Knicks basketball, and the young Spurs coach Mitch Johnson never questioned the ruling.

The Spurs, who were in the bonus at the time, still had a challenge after a successful one just 65 seconds into the game allowed them another.

Johnson brought the challenge back to San Antonio with him in an eventual 107-106 loss.

The report, per The Post’s Stefan Bondy, also mentioned two other potential four calls.

According to the NBA, Victor Wembanyama should have been called for a defensive 3-second violation with 1:26 left in the game.

The two-minute report also determined that on the De’Aaron Fox layup attempt that gave the Knicks the ball back with under 10 seconds, that OG Anunoby “makes a legal attempt to block Fox’s shot and dislodges the ball from his control before making incidental arm contact.”

SAN ANTONIO — It was the moment before the now-famous moment. 

It was delivered by the same right hand — OG Anunoby’s “right hand of God,” as Karl-Anthony Towns labeled it afterward. 

Anunoby’s tip-in at the end of the Knicks’ epic 107-106 Game 4 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, which gave them a 3-1 Finals lead with the series returning here to Frost Bank Center, will go down as one of, if not the, biggest plays in Knicks history if they close this out and win the championship.

But right before, he made what might go down as the most important defensive play in franchise history. 

Jalen Brunson, with the Knicks trailing by one, tried a one-handed bank shot over Victor Wembanyama, but missed badly high off the backboard.

The rebound was batted all the way into the frontcourt, and De’Aaron Fox, already with a running start, beat everyone down the court and corralled it with 13.5 seconds left in the game. 

He had what seemed like a clear path to the rim, but the smarter decision would have been to pull it out, burn some clock and force the Knicks to foul him.

He went up for a layup, though, and there was the “right hand of God” proving that to be a bad decision. 

Anunoby sprinted down the floor, caught up to Fox and blocked the shot, giving the Knicks possession to set up his game-winner.

Plenty of Spurs fans on social media posted videos of the play and claimed Anunoby fouled Fox, but the NBA’s Last Two Minute Report released Thursday found that it was a clean block. 

“Haven’t scored,” Fox explained of his decision after the game. “Try to get a layup, get up three. Force them to need a three. OG made a good block.” 

Notably, Anunoby’s block meant the Knicks only trailed by one on their final offensive possession, allowing his tip-in after Brunson’s missed 3-pointer to give them a decisive lead.

If Fox had waited to get fouled by the Knicks and subsequently made both free throws, the Knicks would have trailed by three — Brunson’s 3-pointer would have been all that mattered and Anunoby’s tip-in would have been irrelevant. 

Even if Fox made just one of two free throws, it would have meant Anunoby’s tip-in tied the game and forced overtime as opposed to being the winner. 

Fox thought he was giving his team a three-point lead. Anunoby pounced on his mistake and set up his own moment of glory. 

“I just thought I’d be able to outrun them,” Fox said. “That’s it.” 

The “right hand of God” caught up. Call it a biblical block. 

I wouldn't blame you if you haven't.

Wednesday night's Game 4 — a 107-106 victory for the New York Knicks to take a commanding 3-1 series lead — was either one of the most thrilling or heartbreaking experiences in recent memory.

There was something poetic about this one. The Knicks had their historic 13-game win streak snapped in Game 3 to set the stage; the San Antonio Spurs had a historic 3-point binge in the first half of Game 4, leading by as many as 29 points early in the third quarter. The Knicks had to make even more history to erase that deficit and ultimately put themselves a win away from achieving their ultimate goal. 

There are plenty of storylines to follow here — Brunson's shot-making from the second quarter onward, OG Anunoby's heroic two-way effort that culminated in the game-winning tip-in, Jose Alvarado's we-need-everything-you-do run in the second half — but I want to, once again, centralize things with the 7-foot-4 guy.

The Knicks didn't just find their offense in the second half, for large stretches, they actively looked for Victor Wembanyama — the game's most impactful defender, utmost rim deterrent and general freak (complimentary) of nature — to do so. 

This is not going to be a "Wemby is a FRAUD" piece — you can click the "X" now if that's what you're looking for — but it is fascinating how, and how often, the Knicks landed on Wemby as the answer to their earlier offensive ills.

There's a general choose-your-poison when it comes to Wemby. If you leave him alone, you may be able to get into your action easier, but that action may only go so far while Wemby works to wall off the rim — my guy Steve Jones has been on it from the jump about his presence and communication. 

If you choose to attack him directly, you have to navigate all 7-4 and however-long-the-wingspan-actually-is of him. But if you're able to engage him high enough on the floor, you can potentially open things up behind him.

Teams just haven't been able to consistently poke at him in either regard. He was the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, folks. Not only do you have to win whichever path you choose; you need to win enough times to make the Spurs feel like they have to do something different.

That's what made Game 4, particularly the second half, so shocking to absorb. 

We'll start here: Per Second Spectrum, the Knicks generated an eye-popping 1.41 points per possession on trips featuring a pick-and-roll defended by Wemby. 

That's right: 34 picks, 1.41 PPP. Both numbers are anomalies within the Wemby Experience.

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Of the 202 career games (regular season and playoffs) Wemby has played, only 38 times (18.8%) has he been tasked with defending at least 30 on-ball picks. Of those 38 instances, Wednesday's Game 4 was the second-worst performance he's been a part of. 

The only game worse? The Spurs' 111-106 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 31, affectionately known as the Moussa Diabate Game. The Hornets generated an absurd 1.48 points per possession when Wemby defended a ball screen in that one. Those are the only two games in which Wemby has ever defended that many screens, and the offense had a success level above 1.4.

Things were even worse in the second half: 22 picks defended by Wemby, an even more insane 1.82 points per trip from the Knicks. 

Game 4 started much like Game 3 did, with high ball pressure and pristine screen navigation making life tough for the Knicks early in the clock. Wemby was, in a literal sense, all over the place. 

He started possessions on a big — Karl-Anthony Towns before his foul trouble, Mitchell Robinson and others once that foul trouble kicked in — before ultimately finding his way back to the paint to bark out orders. He'd "defend" Josh Hart so he could roam around the basket. On other trips, he'd just start in the corner, independent of whom the Knicks had spaced there, to stalk around the rim.

This example ultimately ends in a shooting foul, but look at where Wemby starts, and how deep into the clock the Knicks have to work to generate anything fruitful:

As the Knicks searched for answers — and while the Spurs bombed away from deep on the other end — they weren't able to truly get to Wemby in the first half. He defended 12 on-ball screens all half, with the Knicks generating a paltry 0.7 points per trip. 

The Knicks ramped up the volume not even a minute into the third quarter. In a possession that mattered more than I knew at the time, a seed was planted: Let's set screens higher, get the Wemby switch, and see if we can play out of that.

Brunson attacked Wemby after a switch, forcing a rotation from Julian Champagnie, and eventually generated a catch-and-shoot 3 for Anunoby: 

The Spurs countered that plan shortly after. Brunson received another high screen to get the Wemby switch, but Stephon Castle lingered and ultimately took the matchup back from Wemby. That set off a chain of rotations that led Wemby to the opposite corner, where, to his credit, he did a solid job of containing an attack from Mikal Bridges:

That wasn't a new tweak from the Spurs at all, but it was noteworthy. To that point, we'd seen the Spurs live with Wemby in a drop and mix in some switches. The Spurs even lightly tapping the "switch and double/scram" button clearly set off some sort of signal to the Knicks.

A little bit later, Brunson called up Wemby in action again. Instead of an outright switch, Wemby held his line to give Dylan Harper time to recover before "releasing" the assignment. Brunson drained a HORSE shot for the and-1, but it was again notable that the Spurs didn't want to switch it cleanly:

Roughly a minute later, the Knicks tweaked their approach for a possession. Instead of running another high ball screen near the sideline, they ran the action in the middle of the floor from a "flat" spacing alignment. Paired with Landry Shamet's lift to the right wing, there was nobody behind Wemby to provide real help: 

To that end, I hope the Knicks and their coaching staff get the love they deserve for the spacing principles they exhibited during that second half. The Shamet lift in the example above is a subtle but smart one. One thing that also popped for me, particularly in the fourth quarter, were the corner-to-corner relocations the Knicks were sprinkling in.

Watch Anunoby on this possession:

Alvarado deserves a lot of credit for his willingness to screen, as well as the lumber he laid on the actual screen to force the initial switch. He also deserves credit for darting to the wing after setting the screen. 

Not only does it put Towns one pass away from Brunson, it also puts Alvarado in a position to maintain the numbers advantage — either with a quick swing to Hart to his right or, as we saw in the clip, by attacking from the wing. To the Hart portion, it's why we see Champagnie making a beeline to the opposite corner as Wemby is dropping back:

The Knicks wouldn't let up. Alvarado certainly wouldn't let up. Shortly after, he was once again called up to screen in an effort to bring Wemby into the action. And once again, he ended up making the possession-ending play:

It became such a problem that the Spurs went back to switching Wemby outright to avoid being put in rotation. Naturally, Brunson responded by draining a ridiculous pull-up 3 over Wemby to bring the game within one:

While the Knicks didn't go to the pick-and-roll on their final possession, it seemed fitting that Wemby found himself off-ball switching onto Brunson, with De'Aaron Fox coming with a double team:

The Spurs have a lot to consider heading into a potential season-ending Game 5 on Saturday. Chief among them: How much of the success against Wemby in pick-and-roll was due to the Knicks' understanding of the Spurs' rotations and the counters they presented, a lack of execution and drive containment from the Spurs' end, and general fatigue from Wemby himself?

Remember, Wemby logged nearly 44 minutes in this game. He's logged 40 or more minutes in three of his last five games, averaging 40.6 over this stretch — that's a pretty big uptick from the 29.2 minutes he averaged during the regular season. That, combined with the fact that this is Wemby's first playoff run (still wild to me), would help explain some of the slippage; it'd definitely help explain his jumper-heavy second half.

For now, though, we should marvel at what the Knicks put together in Game 4. It was a comeback for the ages, one that should officially stamp them as an all-time playoff team if the 13-game win streak and historic point-differential weren’t enough to do the job.

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After a season of discussion about Western Conference supremacy, the Knicks sit on the brink of winning the NBA title after an improbable, inexplicable Game 4 comeback.

Over the course of the series, the Spurs have an argument as the better team and have looked the part for the majority of the time. But, repeatedly, they have collapsed in the second half and fourth quarter and a relentless Knicks team has taken advantage.

That’s in no way to diminish what New York has done. They’re a worthy winner who went on one of the greatest postseason runs in NBA history. Even if the Eastern Conference was weaker this season, the Knicks, after a rocky start, bludgeoned their opponents en route to the Finals.

It’s been a magical run for a team that was built in a very unique way. So much credit has been given to the likes of Oklahoma City and San Antonio, teams that have largely built through the draft and still have a treasure trove of draft picks. But the Knicks have bucked that trend.

Tanking vs. trading

At his exit interview, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka was asked about the team’s win-now approach in comparison to building through the draft like the Spurs, Thunder and Pistons have done. His response centered around the ability for those teams to tank and the Lakers not having that luxury.

It’s a fair retort, especially when taking into account that during some of the lean years for those franchises, the Lakers were raising the Larry O’Brien trophy in Orlando. The only time they really tanked in the franchise’s history, they used those players to land Anthony Davis, who helped win that title in 2020.

Building through the draft may still be the best way to construct a contending roster, but it isn’t the only way, and the Knicks are a prime example.

Of the team’s top 10 players in points these playoffs, only Mitchell Robinson was drafted by the team. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Jose Alvarado were all acquired via trade. Jalen Brunson, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson were all free agent signings.

When it comes to building a team organically, the Knicks couldn’t be further from that.

Now, there is something to be said about the Villanova connection that so many of their top players have. It is a common thread through the team’s core that does matter.

But it’s serving as proof positive that drafting top talent isn’t the only way to build a contender in the modern NBA.

A blueprint for the Lakers

How is all this relevant to the Lakers? Well, they’re entering an offseason with the ability to completely reshape the roster.

This isn’t to downplay the importance of drafting at all. The Lakers are still going to need to nail the draft picks they hold after this offseason. Fortunately, the last few years notwithstanding, they have a history of doing so. And in the new world of the new CBA with aprons, the importance only increases.

But the Knicks are an example of a team that successfully did all that. New York didn’t do it all at once, though. It took years of trades and calculated risks — and a superstar willing to take a discount — to put all this together.

The Lakers also might want to pick a random college with lots of pro players to build around. Considering the head coach went to Duke and Luke Kennard had success in LA the second half of the season, maybe that’s a starting point.

Jokes aside, though, the Lakers have a pathway to building a title contender. It might take some time and it’s going to require some good fortune and being opportunistic, but if LA can capitalize on those moments, then it could end in the team raising another banner.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Following the Knicks' incredible comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, two questions emerged from New York's 107-106 win over the Spurs.

First, what was Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox thinking going for a layup in the waning seconds with his team up one? (We will get to that later.) And second, was OG Anunoby's block a foul?

On that second point, you'd think it was a blatant foul if you follow Spurs Twitter, Reddit and message boards. A subsection of Spurs fans are convinced Anunoby fouled Fox on the layup attempt. It wasn't called such during the game and it wound up costing San Antonio a chance to survive their 29-point collapse. 

Well, the NBA's last two minutes report on Game 4 came out Thursday evening and revealed that the call on the court was correct.

"Anunoby makes a legal attempt to block Fox's shot and dislodges the ball from his control before making incidental arm contact," the report read. 

All De’Aaron Fox had to do was run the clock out 😭

He not welcome back in San Antonio lmao pic.twitter.com/Gqri2gTDIE

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) June 11, 2026

Now, on Fox's reason for the layup attempt.

With the Spurs up one with 20 seconds to go, Jalen Brunson's shot attempt went too high off the glass and a footrace for the ball ensued. Fox used his impressive speed to track down the ball with about 11 seconds to go. Instead of holding the ball and letting the Knicks foul him to go to the free throw line, Fox went up for the dagger and was denied.

“I just thought I’d be able to outrun him,” Fox told reporters, including The Athletic's Sam Amick, after the game. “That’s it.”

Anunoby's block kept the Knicks deficit at one point, and allowed the forward to tip-in a Brunson miss in the next possession to give New York the lead and, ultimately, the win.

Fox was asked why he made the choice he did and the 28-year-old explained himself, and ultimately gave credit to Anunoby.

“Try to get a layup, get up three and force them to need a three,” Fox said. “OG made a good block.”

The play will now go down in NBA Finals/Spurs infamy, especially if San Antonio is unable to bounce back. They'll try to stave off elimination in Game 5 on Saturday and try to even up the series back at MSG on Tuesday.

Nothing beats an epic comeback.

When all hope is lost, seeing your favorite team somehow beat all the odds and emerge victorious despite being backed into a corner for most of the game is a feeling that can likely only be matched by witnessing the birth of your first child. The second child probably doesn't hit as hard.

The New York Knicks mounted one of the greatest comebacks ever Wednesday, June 10 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. After trailing by 29 points, the Knicks rallied to win 107-106 on an OG Anunoby tip in with under two seconds to play, securing themselves a 3-1 series lead, just one win away from their first NBA title since 1973.

It was one of the greatest NBA Finals games in recent memory, perhaps only being matched by the iconic Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, where LeBron James famously chased down Andre Iguodala for a key block. But even that game didn't feature a comeback of such epic proportions.

That begs the question, where does this Knicks' win rank among the greatest comebacks of all-time? Here are our picks:

The Golden State Warriors put their bid in for the 2021 NBA champion and Finals MVP earlier in the year around the trade deadline in February, then-offering Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and four first round draft picks.

They backed out then, and the Warriors are seemingly backing out now despite the Bay Area being a potential landing spot for Antetokounmpo.

Sources reportedly told The Stein Line's Jake Fischer on Thursday that the Warriors have not factored into any recent trade talks for Antetokounmpo.

“Minnesota and Golden State were both prominent Antetokounmpo suitors in February when the Bucks briefly invited trade interest in their Face of the Franchise, but sources say neither team has factored into the Bucks' recent trade talks,” Fischer wrote.

Former Cavaliers big man Channing Frye isn’t shy to show confidence in his championship-winning team from the 2016 NBA Finals.

In an interview feature by Bleacher Report highlighting “How 2016 Cavaliers Made the Greatest Comeback in NBA History,” Frye said it didn’t matter who they played in Game 5, the Cavaliers were going to win the game.

“I am a firm believer that even if Draymond [Green] was there, we would have still put that belt on ’em,” Frye said. “Unless he would have grown two more arms, and 6 more inches, no.”

It’s been 10 years since Cleveland ignited the infamous 3-1 Warriors blown lead in the NBA Finals.

In that game, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each had 41 points and combined for nine 3-pointers.

Green was suspended for Game 5 after picking up his fourth flagrant foul of the postseason, forcing him to watch next door from the old Oracle Arena at the Oakland Coliseum because he was not permitted to be in the building.

With no Green on the court, the Cavaliers went on to win, 112-97. Cleveland then won Game 6, 115-101, and then Game 7, 93-89, making it one of the greatest series comebacks in NBA history and bringing LeBron James his first NBA title as a member of the Cavaliers.

Frye recalled one of the advantages Cleveland had was when Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli went down in the series, making it easier for them to attack the rim and play more physically.

With Golden State having no big man on the court and no Green, who was the Defensive Player of the Year the season before, it gave James and Irving a major advantage on the court.

“I don’t know what happened with those boys; they went to the moon,” Frye said. “And I said, watching that firsthand, ‘Hell, no.’ “

Frye went on to compare the speed that James and Irving were playing as similar to a character in an anime.

“Total respect to Golden State, but it was like two sword fighters,” Frye said. “You just hear the noise, and then they’re over there, and you’re like ‘Damn, when did that happen?’ “

New York Knicks game analyst Monica McNutt is on an apology tour after she questioned why superstar singer Taylor Swift was at Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Speaking with TMZ Sports, McNutt addressed the viral hot-mic moment and the wave of Swiftie backlash that followed June 11, saying that she was "wrong" about Swift not being a Knicks fan.

"Swifties, I appreciate your passion. I said what I said," McNutt said. "And here's the deal, if I'm wrong. I am wrong, apparently, because she's got an OG Amar'e Stoudemire jersey."

"I misspoke. I did not know. But here's the deal, context, I literally just did a piece on celebrity row. I've been with this organization for five years. I know these folks. Ben Stiller. His wife, Christine (Taylor). Spike Lee. All of them. Fat Joe," she added.

McNutt offered additional clarity, telling the outlet that she had not seen the "New Romantics" singer at a Knicks game this year, or last year.

"And we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancé (Travis Kelce). Obviously, Travis supports the Cavs. She didn't have any Knicks paraphernalia, so I did not know of her Knicks loyalty. But shoutout, T-Swift. We can be united in orange and blue, like, it's fine."

McNutt's backpedaling came less than 24 hours after she was caught dissing Swift to fellow Knicks colleague Tyler Murray shortly after spotting her: "She's not a Knicks fan. Get outta here, girl."

Larry David’s enthusiasm was a little curbed when the Knicks were down 71-42 before making an historic comeback against the Spurs in Game 4 on Wednesday night. 

Fellow Knicks fan John McEnroe, seated next to David on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden, told the ESPN crew on “NBA Today” on Thursday that the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star was ready to head for the exit when all hope looked lost for the Knicks. 

“We were sort of a little negative at 71-42,” the former tennis star and ESPN analyst said. “He was like, ‘Let’s get outta here.’ He was like, ‘Let’s get outta here.’ I go, ‘Larry, listen, over the years it hasn’t come up the way we expected [as Knicks fans].’ You know, I’ve blown a couple [of] big leads in my life….It was sort of like, ‘Here we go again, we’re gonna lose this. Something bad’s gonna happen.'”

But McEnroe said he tried to get David to be a bit more positive in the face of an uphill battle for the Knicks. 

“I said, ‘Larry, let’s get positive here. If they get it down [from 29] to 25, 21, 18, it’s 15 at the end of the [third] quarter.’ This type of stuff. ‘Let’s keep it positive,'” McEnroe continued. “That’s the most positive I’ve ever been at a game, and I’ve been at a lot of sporting events over the course of my 56 years of coming to Knicks games when I was 8 years old.”

The shocking comeback 107-106 Knicks win has put the team one win away from their first NBA title since 1973, whipping Knicks fans everywhere into a frenzy. 

“I’ve never felt the energy in a crowd at Madison Square [Garden]. We used to play a big tennis event there [the season-ending Masters] and nothing’s ever come close to that. No one left after an hour,” McEnroe said. 

The interview was the second viral moment for David after video posted to social media showed the star nearly collapsing after Josh Hart missed a layup that would have given the Knicks a lead late in the fourth quarter.

After spending their entire careers as NBA rivals, LeBron James and Steph Curry might actually join forces.

According to NBC Sports Warriors insider Monte Poole, James joining Golden State should not be dismissed.

“I know it seems crazy,” Poole and NBC Sports Bay Area were told by a well-connected source. “But there is at least curiosity on both sides. This wouldn’t even be a conversation five or six years ago, and it might not happen now, but there’s enough there that we shouldn’t ignore the possibility. It’s mostly up to LeBron.”

Poole noted that the general belief is James will remain in Los Angeles, playing alongside his son, Bronny James, but recent reports by Brett Siegel of Clutch Points suggest Curry plans to meet with LeBron during the offseason and recruit him to the Warriors.

Over the last half-decade, James has said multiple times that he enjoys playing alongside Curry. The King said playing with Curry during the 2024 Paris Olympics was everything he envisioned.

In Poole’s article, he noted Warriors owner Joe Lacob would welcome the pairing because he loves having stars on his team.

A year after Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson won their first title together in 2015, they met Kevin Durant and the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference finals.

The series ended up going seven games, with the Warriors edging OKC for the conference title.

The Warriors met LeBron and the Cavaliers in the Finals. Golden State, which led 3-1, fell in seven games.

Determined to win another title, Lacob and the Warriors signed Durant during the offseason. He led them to back-to-back championships and was selected as back-to-back Finals MVP.

Poole suggested that LeBron, Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green, one of LeBron’s best friends, could join forces for another NBA title run.

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Unfortunately for McNutt, the internet heard that comment, and the response was loud enough that she responded via TMZ street interview Thursday, less than 24 hours later.

She apologized for the error, citing the fact that she hadn't seen Swift at a Knicks game in the past couple years and wasn't aware she was a fan:

"Swifties, I appreciate your passion, I said what I said. Here's the deal, if I'm wrong — I am wrong apparently because she's got an original Amar'e Stoudemire [Knicks] jersey.

"I misspoke. I did not know, but here's the deal, context, I literally just did a piece on Celebrity Row. I've been with his organization for five years. I know these folks: Ben Stiller, his wife Christine [Taylor], Spike Lee, Fat Joe. I had not seen her here this year or last year and we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancé [Travis Kelce for Game 3 of Eastern Conference finals].

"Obviously, Travis supports the Cavs. She didn't have any Knicks paraphernalia, so I did not know of her Knicks loyalty. But shoutout to T. Swift, we can be united in orange and blue, it's fine.

As McNutt mentions, Swift has been known to be a Knicks fan for quite a long time. In 2014, she told Time Magazine she's loved the team since performing at a halftime kids talent competition when she was 12 or 13 and had developed a friendship with then-Knicks star Amar'e Stoudemire.

We have photographs to accompany that note as well.

So it appears Swift's attendance, wearing a "Stevie Knicks" T-shirt and flanked by her friends Este and Alana Haim (and their "Knickelback" and "Knickole Kidman" shirts), was quite natural, as was her euphoria-fueled friendship with "Law and Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay.

McNutt does not appear to be sweating the error. She had bigger things to worry about Wednesday:

"I knew it was a big deal on the internet, but I was too busy enjoying the actual game because I got it like that."

Game 5, in which the Knicks can clinch their first NBA title since 1973, is scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).

Sometimes it feels like the media likes to just kick Houston Rockets fans while they’re down, and Tuesday and Wednesday were no different. I was just minding my business, scrolling on Twitter while thinking about how I will manage without Rocket’s basketball till October (depressing, I know), when I saw a tweet going around saying that the Rockets had significant interest in Stephon Castle around the 2024 NBA Draft, but Castle told Houston not to bother.

Now, the 2024 draft was a weird one for Houston since, despite having a 41-41 record the season before, Houston was able to receive the third pick in the draft. Everyone wondered what player Houston would take with the pick since Stephon Castle, Reed Sheppard, and Donovan Clingan were all mentioned. However, there was a wrinkle in Houston’s potential plan, as there had been rumors that Castle had no interest in joining some teams, particularly those with a point guard. This meant the Rockets, who had signed Fred Vanvleet to a contract the previous summer, would likely be out of the running since it was clear Castle wanted a starting role, or did he?

Well, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, it all turned out to be a smokescreen and conspiracy to get to Castle’s preferred destination, the San Antonio Spurs.

“At the time, there were reports that Castle’s choice not to conduct private workouts with several teams was driven by his desire to avoid teams that already had an established starting point guard

One of those teams was the Houston Rockets, who ultimately took Reed Sheppard out of Kentucky with the third pick. Per league sources, Rockets coach and former Spurs assistant Ime Udoka was a huge fan of Castle’s (which Castle said he was well aware of). But with veteran Fred VanVleet manning the point guard position and young Jalen Green at the two-guard spot, Castle and his camp sent the kinds of signals Houston’s way that eventually led to him landing in San Antonio. Just as he’d hoped,“

It would have been intriguing to watch the fit with Amen Thompson. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that the Rockets, who finished 23rd in outside shooting, had a significant shooting deficiency in the season leading up to that draft. However, it’s also important to note that, after what was essentially a redshirt rookie season last year, Sheppard was considered for the Sixth Man of the Year award, finishing with some votes. Therefore, the Rockets did not make a poor decision. Houston needed shooting, and that’s what Reed gave them. You can be upset about how the draft worked out without holding it against Sheppard, who has a bright future ahead.

Having stated all of that, what are your thoughts? How do you feel about this all coming out nearly two years after the 2024 draft? Do you blame Stephon Castle for going about this how he did? Let us know, and as always go Rockets.

Knicks takeover.

New York is the top-billing state for Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Spurs, even though the game is in San Antonio, according to SeatGeek.

Thirty-one percent of the billing is from Knicks territory, New York and New Jersey, while just 20 percent is from the Spurs’ home state of Texas.

This is a huge increase from Game 1, when New York and New Jersey states grabbed 13 percent, and Game 2 (17 percent).

Texas was responsible for at least 41 percent of ticket sales in each of those games.

The Knicks-heavy crowd was expected regardless of the Game 4 outcome, with New York and New Jersey buyers still accounting for 28 percent of sales prior to June 10.

The surge of Knicks fans has also come with a surge in price.

Prior to Game 4, the get-in price was $1,481. It has since risen 20 percent to $1,774 after the Knicks’ historic 29-point comeback put them up 3-1 in the series.

The price is still nothing compared to Madison Square Garden’s numbers, which saw a $4,585 get-in price, including fees, on the day of Game 3.

The most expensive ticket, courtside near the center of the court, was auctioned for $500,000.

Knicks fans have traveled well all postseason, with New Jersey and New York responsible for 47 percent of ticket sales in Game 3 of the 76ers series and 58 percent in Game 4.

An impressive celebrity row is also expected in San Antonio, with the likes of Fat Joe, Timothée Chalamet, Patrick Ewing, and Ben Stiller previously making appearances at Frost Bank Center.

It’s getting more and more physical.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who picked up a flagrant foul for a hard hit on Karl-Anthony Towns in Wednesday’s historic NBA Finals loss to the Knicks, also got up close and personal with eventual Game 4 hero OG Anunoby.

With San Antonio leading 41-22 at the end of the first quarter, Wembanyama broke free from defender Jeremy Sochan to set a screen for De’Aaron Fox in an attempt to evade Anunoby’s defense.

The video, shared by The Post’s Jared Schwartz, shows Wembanyama approaching Anunoby, jumping and lunging forward, landing awkwardly on top of the Knicks star’s right leg.

Neither player appeared to suffer any ill effects of Wembanyama’s closeout, but the 7-foot-4 center bumped Anunoby several more times for the rest of the possession, and even directed a complaint toward a referee.

No fouls were called on the play.

After being down 29 points, New York staged the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history with a 107-106 win – but Wembanyama continues to be on the receiving end of vitriol — and eggs — from the Knicks faithful.

“For those of you who don’t think Wemby is dirty explain this without saying it’s AI,” WFAN host Craig Carton wrote on X about the Anunoby screen.

“Dude tried to take OG’s ACL,” Buffalo Bills host Nate Geary wrote in response to the video.

While the angle from ESPN’s broadcast shows that Sochan might have shoved Wembanyama into Anunoby, any borderline physicality involving the French big man will be under a microscope.

The MVP finalist has drawn the ire of Knicks fans after a hard foul on star Jalen Brunson in Game 3 on Monday.

Wembanyama shoved Brunson to the ground in the first quarter of Monday’s contest, while appearing to laugh, and was not called for a personal foul, much less a flagrant.

Everyone from President Donald Trump to Mayor Zohran Mamdani ripped the non-call on Wembanyama.

Despite NBA senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen admitting a “foul was missed,” the league elected not to issue a retroactive flagrant on Wembanyama, a ruling that now looms large for the remainder of the series.

Entering the Finals, Wembanyama already carried two flagrant points for elbowing the Timberwolves center Naz Reid in the throat during the Western Conference semifinals.

After being hit with a flagrant for elbowing Towns in the third quarter of Game 4, Wembanyama now carries three points — a fourth would trigger an immediate one-game suspension.

If the NBA reviews the Anunoby play and issues a retroactive flagrant, Wembanyama would be suspended for Game 5.

Carrying a 3-1 series lead, the Knicks will look to clinch the franchise’s first title since 1973 as the teams return to San Antonio for Game 5 Saturday night.

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg praised his “new friend” Knicks guard Jose Alvarado for the team’s historic comeback Wednesday night, playfully announcing they had a “smoother” encounter than their viral run-in at Game 3.

Bloomberg shared a picture of him and Alvarado that was snapped while they chatted courtside before Game 4.

“Our second meeting went a little smoother. Huge congrats to my new friend [Alvarado] and the [Knicks] on their historic comeback. Don’t ever count NYC out. One more to go. Let’s Go Knicks!” Bloomberg captioned the post.

Alvarado and Bloomberg had an uncomfortably close first encounter on Monday.

During Game 3, Alvarado flew into celebrity row while trying to retrieve a loose ball — and landed right on top of Bloomberg.

The 84-year-old looked a little shaken up, but appeared otherwise unscathed.

Alvarado put his arms around Bloomberg and patted him on the chest after the collision, seemingly attempting to apologize before diving back into the game. 

To make matters worse, the Knicks fell to the Spurs within the hour, shattering their 13-game win streak.

Some fans suggested that Bloomberg was “the good luck charm” whose sheer presence secured Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory.

“Mikes leadership rubbed off on Jose!!” one woman commented.

“Craziest full circle ever,” another added.

“Still my mayor,” one person concluded.

Current New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended Game 3 with a gaggle of Empire State lawmakers in the standing-room section. He was spotted cheering on the Knicks during Game 4 at a bar in Queens.

The GOAT conversation has surfaced yet again after LeBron James told Time magazine, “I’m not taking nobody over me.”

When Stephen A. Smith was asked about James’ comments on ESPN’s “First Take,” he didn’t hold back from pointing out that Michael Jordan and other NBA greats would never call themselves the GOAT.

“I know Michael Jordan, I speak to him often. I’m telling you, he has never, ever, ever, once called himself the greatest,” Smith said on “First Take.” “It’s never happened. Kobe Bryant didn’t call himself the greatest. Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] didn’t call himself the greatest …”

Smith continued to list other former NBA greats and didn’t withhold from taking shots at James when telling the rest of the “First Take” hosts why James would say this.

“Because the man is addicted to trying to control the narrative,” Smith said. “These are the reasons problems exist, and so many people who support him, they haven’t seen the forest for the trees. They get caught up in that moment.”

When James said he wouldn’t take anybody over himself, he said he believes Jordan, Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar would say the same thing.

“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ,” James said.

Despite James’ point that these NBA greats would take themselves over anybody, Smith spent the rest of the segment delivering shot after shot on James, and said he calculates every move he makes, and when he retires, he will be remembered as the best statistically.

“As I told you before. He is on the Mount Rushmore. He is one of the top two in the history [of the NBA] …,” Smith said. “But that’s as far as he’s getting. As long as I’m breathing, and I’m on airwaves, it will never be what he wants it to be.”

Knicks lead radio analyst Monica McNutt said she “misspoke” after she questioned Taylor Swift’s Knicks loyalty while on the air during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

During a Thursday interview with TMZ, McNutt — who said “get out of here, girl” when she spotted Swift on Celebrity Row — explained that she was unaware of the singer’s Knicks fandom.

“Swifties, I appreciate your passion, I said what I said,” McNutt said, referring to Swift’s fan base, which let her hear on social media over her remarks. “Here’s the deal, if I’m wrong, I am wrong apparently because she’s got an original Amar’e Stoudemire [Knicks] jersey. I misspoke. I did not know.”

McNutt was likely referring to a viral photo from 2014 of Swift rocking a Knicks jersey with former New York stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire on the court at Madison Square Garden. She’s wearing a No. 13 jersey, her favorite number, in the photo.

“But here’s the deal, context, I literally just did apiece on Celebrity Row,” McNutt said. “I’ve been with his organization for five years. I know these folks — Ben Stiller, his wife Christine [Taylor], Spike Lee, Fat Joe. I had not seen her here this year or last year and we just saw her in Cleveland with her fiancé [Travis Kelce for Game 3 of Eastern Conference finals].

“Obviously Travis supports the Cavs. She didn’t have any Knicks paraphernalia [on at the game], so I didn’t know of her Knicks loyalty. But shoutout to T. Swift, we can be united in orange and blue, it’s fine.

“I did not know, I apologize if I’m wrong and apparently i am wrong and that fine but I did not know, because come on now — every Knicks fan has been in the building this year. So it’s all good.”

McNutt added that the Knicks’ historic comeback from down by as many as 29 to beat the Spurs 107-106 overpowered any discourse that her remarks may have caused.

“Did you see how the way that game ended? Nobody cared about this at all,” McNutt said. “I knew it was a big deal on the internet, but I was too busy enjoying the actual game because I got it like that.”

McNutt ruffled some feathers after she told her broadcast partner, Tyler Murray, that Swift was in the building and he pulled out his phone to take a photo.

“She’s not a Knicks fan. Get out of here, girl,” McNutt said, which set off Swifties online.

Swift attended her first Knicks game of the season and nearly stole the spotlight on Celebrity Row at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.

The 14-time Grammy winner and her friends, singing sisters Este and Alana Haim, wore matching blue and orange shirts with Knicks puns.

They were cheering for New York throughout the game and enjoyed a celebration in the back hallways of MSG, where Swift was jumping up and down and swinging a towel in the air.

Swift, who owns multiple properties in New York, hasn’t claimed to be a diehard Knicks fan, but she has attended games at MSG.

She’s also from the East Coast and is a Reading, Pa. native.

Swift and Kelce are set to tie the knot at the World’s Most Famous Arena on July 3.

But predictions for what happens from there remain unsettled, and the changes are perhaps best reflected through the latest mock draft curated by USA TODAY Sports using Microsoft Copilot's AI chat bot. Artificial intelligence adjusted its take on the draft only one week after its previous run-through with this mock draft exercise.

So Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, Michigan's Aday Mara and Baylor's Cameron Carr moved up based on Microsoft Copilot's analysis of the latest mock drafts, prospect analysis, team needs and rumors and intel related to pre-draft workouts and front office discussions. Koa Peat of Arizona and Houston's Chris Cenac Jr., meanwhile, saw their stock drop in the eyes of AI.

The real answers are likely to be shrouded in mystery until the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft begins on June 23.

Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's latest 2026 NBA mock draft, including the chatbot's reasoning for making each first-round pick:

GlobeAre the Knicks destined to finally win it all? A stunning Game 4 comeback has them one win away.

Knicks come from 29 down in historic comeback to stun Spurs, take 3-1 lead in NBA Finals

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A brutal night for Victor Wembanyama continued even after he returned to his New York hotel on Wednesday, as he was pelted with boos from jeering Knicks fans and nearly struck by a flying egg.

A video shared online showed at least one egg tossed in the direction of the San Antonio Spurs superstar as he entered his hotel, flanked by security, after the team’s Game 4 loss to the Knicks.

It was not clear who threw the egg. The video showed taunting fans swarming the hotel, a few blocks south of Madison Square Garden.

Related: Wembanyama condemns apparent attacks on Spurs fans in New York during NBA finals

A few seconds after the egg cracks on a street sign, Wembanyama turns around and confronts a person standing near the hotel’s entrance, before continuing inside.

The Spurs did not immediately respond to a request seeking clarity on whether the object struck Wembanyama.

The confrontation followed a historic collapse by the Spurs, who now find themselves on the brink of elimination after blowing a 29-point lead to the Knicks. Wembanyama missed two key free throws in the game’s final minutes.

The Knicks’ victory prompted scenes of bedlam and jubilation across New York City, as ecstatic fans packed the streets, set off fireworks, scaled lamp-posts and at times clashed with police. According to the New York police department, 56 people were taken into custody for charges that ranged from assault to disorderly conduct.

“Once again, there were large crowds of people who engaged in incredibly reckless and dangerous behavior last night both during and after the game,” the police department said in a statement.

An NYPD spokesperson said they had nothing on file about the egg incident.

Earlier this week, players from both teams condemned apparent attacks on Spurs fans by supporters of the Knicks. Video had circulated showing San Antonio fans having their jerseys ripped off in the streets of New York after the Spurs’ win in Game 3 on Monday.

“My thoughts of course [are] that we can’t forget it’s a game,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said about the incidents. “We’re just playing a game out there. I am all for passion, but [with] the respect of each other. It’s unacceptable.”

Added Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns: “The game is built off of respect and passion. We want everyone to respect each other. We want everyone to enjoy basketball at its purest state. It’s the NBA finals. There’s no better place to watch basketball. Leave the physicality to everyone on the court.”

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Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberestroh break down the electric Game 4 of the NBA Finals. What led to the Knicks' historic comeback from a 29-point deficit? Can the Spurs bounce back or is New York's momentum unstoppable? Who will come out victorious in Game 5?

Plus, the duo addresses the latest conversation around the Giannis trade rumors and gives their picks for the top potential landing spots.

(0:32) Knicks beat Spurs in Game 4
(10:21) Mitch Johnson & De'Aaron Fox's blunders
(26:55) Wembanyama's 2nd half struggles
(47:40) Knicks roster construction
(53:34) Two suitors for a Giannis trad

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channel

Check out all episodes of The Kevin O'Connor Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Every once in a while, you see something you've never seen before. Something that makes the impossible, possible, regardless of what the odds say. On June 10, the New York Knicks gave fans another moment that will forever be a snapshot in time.

Erasing a 29-point lead in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Knicks' comeback story is one that will be told for years to come. You'll remember where you were, what the weather was like, what you ate for dinner and maybe the first call or text you made in the immediate aftermath of the OG Anunoby shot heard around the sports world.

Whether the comeback is the greatest in sports history is up for debate. At the very least, Game 4 of the NBA Finals went from being a game Knicks fans couldn't wait to turn off to being a game they can't relive enough.

Anatomy of a stunning comeback: How Knicks pulled off improbable win

Now on the doorstep of their first NBA title since 1973, the job isn't finished. In the meantime, let's put the comeback into context.

Here's a look at how the Knicks' comeback compares to the New England Patriots' famous 28-3 comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51, by the numbers.

The Giannis-to-Boston rumors are heating back up.

Prominent NBA insiders Kevin O’Connor (Yahoo Sports) and Bill Simmons (The Ringer) reignited the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade discourse with eye-opening updates on the Celtics’ interest in the Milwaukee Bucks superstar. O’Connor said the C’s are willing to part ways with all but one of their players.

“I have heard Boston is shopping people around a lot right now, that Boston is making calls, Boston is open to trading anybody besides Jayson Tatum,” O’Connor said on The Kevin O’Connor Show. “And that doesn’t necessarily mean they land Giannis at the end of the day, but I do believe, based off of everything and all the conversations I’ve had, is that the Celtics are in on Giannis, and that they are making a push on him… This feels very, very real to me.”

Simmons, who had initially poured cold water on the Giannis-to-Boston rumors, changed his tune on Thursday.

“I thought Boston was out of this,” Simmons said on theBill Simmons Podcast. “I know Boston was out of this. I was wondering if they were playing possum or not. I think they were playing a little possum. I think they are in on Giannis.

“I’m not recanting what I said before. I don’t know the reasons for it. Maybe they felt like Miami’s offer is an offer they could beat. Maybe they want to drive the price of Miami’s offer up and don’t really have interest in him.”

Simmons added that Boston remains among Giannis’ preferred destinations.

Those updates coincided with an interesting X post by Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who would presumably be the centerpiece of a Giannis deal.

“The neighbor’s rice always smells better,” Brown wrote.

So, what should we make of the latest Giannis rumors? Kayla Burton, Phil Perry, and Marc Bertrand shared their reactions during Thursday’s Early Edition.

“I wouldn’t mind it as long as the guy is healthy,” Burton said. “He only played 36 games last season. … That’s my only concern when it comes to him. … He’s on the upside of 31 years old now, had some injuries. … I just don’t know the number of pieces that they have to trade away.”

Antetokounmpo was limited to 36 games due to multiple injuries, including a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee. The two-time NBA MVP remained elite when healthy, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists while shooting over 62 percent from the field.

“He’s still a great player, and when you look at some of the advanced numbers, he’s still one of the best offensive players in basketball when he’s on the court,” Perry said. “I think part of the reason he’s missed time is because he’s just been checked out in Milwaukee, so I don’t worry as much as some others do about his health.

“I just take away from the reporting from Kevin O’Connor, they’re willing to trade anybody, or they’re shopping anybody not named Jayson Tatum. OK, they’re willing to potentially move Jaylen Brown, and they’re in on Giannis. … I’m not sure there’s a package out there, whether it’s Miami or anywhere else that would beat the Celtics’ willingness to trade away a second-team All-NBA guy.”

Trading Brown would be a stunning development. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP has been key to Boston’s success since being selected third overall in the 2016 draft. He took his game to another level this past season with Tatum sidelined, averaging a career-high 28.6 points per game and finishing sixth in the MVP race.

But after blowing a 3-1 series lead in their first-round playoff matchup vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s time for Brad Stevens and the C’s to reevaluate their situation.

“You’ve got to watch what is playing out right now with the teams that are dominating, whether you want to say it’s the Knicks or it’s the Spurs,” Bertrand said. “Which of those teams are you going to compete with with this current roster? The Knicks have already beaten you once. Are you going to compete against the Spurs with the way this roster is currently constructed?

“If the Celtics are all in on building a championship team, they might need it to look different than the way it looks now.”

If Antetokounmpo is moved, it’ll likely happen before the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23.

Watch the full Early Edition segment in the video player above, or on YouTube below:

The Lakers have a clear need for athleticism across the floor and, particularly, on the perimeter. It’s something that was apparent even at the trade deadline and could be seen in the players the team was targeting.

There were a ton of other players they were connected to, like Keon Ellis, that they couldn’t pick up at the deadline. In the end, Ellis was traded to the Cavaliers. However, his time in Cleveland wasn’t exactly a great experience. In the playoffs, he was ineffective and non-existent.

Ellis played beyond 10 minutes only once in the postseason, did not play multiple times and provided nothing offensively. He went 5-15 from the field, scoring just 19 points across eight games and had a plus-minus of -31.

Now that the season is over, the Cavaliers have some tough decisions to make. As a second-apron team, money is going to be tight. Ellis was already set for free agency and, after underperforming, it looks unlikely Cleveland is going to retain him.

In a recent article, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported on Ellis likely being the odd man out with the Cavs.

The most pressing piece of roster business in Cleveland, outside of the Cavaliers ironing out a future agreement with James Harden, will come down to its decisions on Dean Wade and Keon Ellis as they seek to move out of the second apron.

Sources say that team officials already concede behind the scenes that it will be extremely difficult to keep both players. My early read: The priority is likely going to be bringing back Wade, who started a career-high 38 games this season and has been one of Cleveland’s top point-of-attack defenders as a jumbo-sized swingman.

This could be exactly the kind of opportunity the Lakers could take advantage of. They have more cap space than most teams this offseason, and they can pick up quality players other teams can’t retain due to the apron restrictions.

And considering the down postseason Ellis had, there’s a chance for LA to buy low on Ellis as Fisher detailed later in his report.

Ellis’ market, meanwhile, has seemingly taken a bit of a hit since February, when league sources say half the league was expressing interest in acquiring him from Sacramento via trade. The Cavaliers always appeared to be a curious landing spot for Ellis compared to a team like the Lakers that had a clear need for perimeter defenders. It remains to be seen how Ellis fares in free agency now after largely falling out of Kenny Atkinson’s playoff rotation.

Ellis averaged a modest 6.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game this season. He actually was better statistically in many ways with Cleveland as he averaged 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and shot 49.1% from the field. His greatest value lies in his defense. He is a solid perimeter defender who averaged 1.3 steals per game in Cleveland.

While things didn’t go according to plan for him in the playoffs with the Cavs, it’s hard to trust a franchise that traded for James Harden to push them over the top in the playoffs. If they do move on from Ellis this offseason, don’t be surprised if the Lakers are involved.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Josh Hart nearly brought Larry David to his knees.

The guard’s missed layup with 1:57 left in the fourth quarter as the Knicks sought to fully realize their 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday caused David, the “Seinfeld” co-creator and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star, to nearly fall over in shock on celebrity row.

Hart was later beaten to a rebound and fouled Stephon Castle, who sank a pair of free throws with 30.3 seconds left to give the Spurs a lead.

Fortunately for Hart, the flub became a moot point, thanks to OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds left to give the Knicks the 107-106 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“I’ve got a special shoutout for OG, man, because he saved me, at least for this game, a lifetime of regret,” Hart said.

Anunoby not only saved Hart, but also David, a native New Yorker, longtime Knicks fans and sideline staple, who was able to revel in the record win with the rest of celebrity row.

The bonkers postgame scene saw David and Jerry Seinfeld embrace, both being among a fan base unable to believe what they’d just seen.

Pop superstar Taylor Swift was hugging pals and fellow musicians Alana and Este Haim along with “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay — all decked out in custom “Stevie Knicks” t-shirts.

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Timothée Chalamet celebrated wildly after the win, jumping up and down with fans and even stealing a reporter’s mic to tell the world that the Knicks would win in 5. 

In less than two minutes, David went from near-collapse to over-the-top jubilation — and now, the Knicks, up 3-1 in the series, sit one win away from their first NBA title in 53 years.

As David’s version of himself on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” famously says, “Pretty, pretty, pretty good!”

The ninth pick in the NBA Draft is quite the interesting place to be. When you look back at the past 25 to 30 years, the swings between “complete flame out” and “Hall of Famer” are quite volatile. Dirk Nowitzki, Amar’e Stoudamire, Andre Iguodala, DeMar Derozan and Kemba Walker were all selected at the ninth pick. In that same span, Rodney White, Mike Sweetney, Ike Diogu and Pat O’Bryant were all picked. Volatile is an understatement!

In recent years as teams have refined the draft process, the swings have gotten a bit less dramatic. With that in mind, let’s look back specifically at the last ten NBA Drafts to see if we can find any trends that could help us see what the Dallas Mavericks could be doing in this draft.

Flame outs

2017: Dennis Smith Jr. (Dallas Mavericks)

2018: Kevin Knox II (New York Knicks)

2022: Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs)

It doesn’t take an incompetent organization to miss on a pick, as evidenced by the Spurs missing on Sochan in 2022. Jalen Williams and Jalen Duren were taken just a couple picks after the Spurs took Sochan at ninth. Others taken after that pick include Tari Eason (17^th), Christian Braun (21^st), Walker Kessler (22^nd) and Andrew Nembhard (31^st).

In the case of the Mavericks and Knicks, I think it’s fair to classify those front offices as incompetent. But even then with DSJ and Dallas, it seems like he was doomed due to coaching, which is unfortunate. However, organizations can make their own luck here, and the all three of these failed to with their picks.

Jury is still out

2023: Taylor Hendricks (Utah Jazz)

I think Hendricks has the potential to be a good pro. Obviously, his career was thrown for a loop after he suffered that awful leg injury in Dallas a couple of years ago, but Hendricks is a talented player who could thrive in the correct system.

Stars in their role

2016: Jakob Poeltl (Toronto Raptors)

2019: Rui Hachimura (Washington Wizards)

2021: Davion Mitchell (Sacramento Kings)

The interesting parallel here is that only one of the three here, Poeltl, is making an impact for the team that drafted him. And even Poeltl was shipped off early on in his career before finding his way back. That’s why it’s important to do the scouting on all of the guys in this range, because you never know if eventually, you’ll be the place where the player shines brightest.

All-star ceiling

2020: Deni Avdija (Washington Wizards)

2024: Zach Edey (Memphis Grizzlies)

2025: Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors)

Deni is the only All-Star to come from the ninth pick since Andre Drummond, who was drafted in 2012. That being said, even in consensus weaker classes in 2024 and 2025, the ninth pick has panned out well. Edey, when healthy, has been a force for Memphis. Murray-Boyles was Toronto’s third best player in their seven-game battle against the Cavs this postseason.

Tally it all up, and there’s truly nothing off the table with this pick. Which makes it all the more interesting as we turn to our friends at the FanDuel Sportsbook to see who is favored to be selected ninth overall.

What do you think about the options who could be available? Let us know in the comments!

Wager Responsibly! Odds are subject to change. If you need help, call 1 (800) GAMBLER.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Warriors not a factor in Bucks trade talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer.
• Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg completed a workout with the Warriors on Thursday.
• Knicks complete historic 29-point comeback against the Spurs to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals.

Once again, the Golden State Warriors appear to be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Warriors have not been a factor in the Milwaukee Bucks’ most recent trade discussions surrounding the two-time MVP.

Via The Stein Line:

Minnesota and Golden State were both prominent Antetokounmpo suitors in February when the Bucks briefly invited trade interest in their Face of the Franchise, but sources say neither team has factored into the Bucks’ recent trade talks.

Golden State has long been viewed as a potential destination for Antetokounmpo in an attempt to extend Stephen Curry’s shrinking championship window. However, the Warriors currently lack the combination of young talent and draft assets that other contenders can offer Milwaukee. Any trade package would likely require Golden State to part with multiple future first-round picks, which have become increasingly valuable under the NBA’s revised draft lottery system.

Meanwhile, according to Fischer, the Bucks have a firm offer on the table from the Miami Heat centered around Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and “prime draft capital.” If that’s the case, the Warriors would likely have a difficult time fielding a more competitive offer without mortgaging their post-Curry future.

Of course, trade talks can evolve quickly during the offseason, but for now, the Warriors’ long-rumored pursuit of Antetokounmpo has seemingly lost momentum.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, June 11th:

Warriors News:

NBA Intel: Domantas Sabonis, Michael Porter Jr, Pelicans trade talks; Raptors, Cavs | Hoops Hype

Porter Jr., who turns 28 on June 29th, drew trade interest from teams, including the Golden State Warriors, as the deadline neared. The Warriors considered parting with a first-round pick for Porter Jr. hours before the deadline, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, Terance Mann was brought up in expanded discussions involving Porter Jr., but there were complications regarding his involvement, which would’ve necessitated a potential third team, HoopsHype has learned. Brooklyn also values Mann, who was a starter last season and is considered a strong veteran presence in their young locker room. 

2026 NBA buzz: Latest news, injuries, league intel, updates | ESPN

Lendeborg’s individual workout and in-person meeting with the front office Thursday will assuredly play a role in whether the Warriors decide to draft him in two weeks. It’ll also matter how the board in front of them falls. There are plenty of intriguing players who could surprisingly fall out of the top 10, including Arizona guard Brayden Burries, who league sources said is expected to be among the lottery prospects working out for the Warriors next week. — Anthony Slater

‘Curiosity’ on both sides for a potential Warriors-LeBron James team-up

NBA News:

The Knicks, one win from NBA championship, really look like a team of destiny | The Athletic

“When you do it once, you know you can do it again,” said OG Anunoby, who strengthened his NBA Finals MVP case with a 33-point performance to help New York take a 3-1 series lead back to San Antonio for Game 5. “You never want to be down, but that’s just how it goes. It’s a game of runs. They went on their run early, but we knew we had a run to go on, as well. So, just staying with it, not getting too low in the moment, and keep pushing, having confidence, believing in ourselves and knowing it’s a 48-minute game. Play until the end.”

Knicks complete 29-point comeback to take a 3-1 series lead against the Spurs

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Warriors to work out Michigan star Yaxel Lendeborg

That could make him the perfect fit on the Warriors, who are still chasing superstars, and hoping to build one more NBA Finals contender around Steph Curry. Lendeborg, who is talented defensively on both the perimeter and interior, can score in a variety of ways, and is very polished, would likely slot right into the rotation, as he figures to be one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. But, despite his age, there’s also a belief by many that Lendeborg has a lot of untapped potential, and has a star ceiling rather than just a high floor.

Follow @unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.

On today’s episode, Andrew Dukowitz of Zone Coverage joins the show to discuss a wild New York Knicks win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals and the 10-2 start of the season for the Lynx:

— The Knicks erased an NBA Finals record 29-point deficit to win Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Jalen Brunson was incredible yet again down the stretch, and OG Anunoby had the clutch block and tip-in layup to seal the victory.

— Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two early fouls, which kept him out most of the first half, but still finished with a game-high +17 as the former Minnesota Timberwolves franchise player is one win away from becoming a champion.

— It is easy to look back on the trade of Towns and have regret. Ultimately, the Knicks will end up winning the trade if they close out these Finals, but the Wolves still have a path to make the trade a positive from their perspective as well.

— The Minnesota Lynx have started the season with a 10-2 record, including eight straight wins. They are leading the WNBA in almost every conceivable category, including best record, most points scored, and fewest points against, while Napheesa Collier hasn’t played a single minute.

— Olivia Miles has been incredible to start her WNBA career. She has put up 17.8 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.2 rebounds per game on 53.2/37.1/91.2 percent shooting splits. Miles is well on her way to winning Rookie of the Year and may finish on the ballot for Most Valuable Player.

— It is still unclear when Collier will return to the court, but it appears as though the talk of her leaving in the offseason has died down at least for now, with the Lynx getting off to a hot start.

Actress Mariska Hargitay delivered a heartfelt message to Jalen Brunson after the Knicks’ historic comeback from down by as many as 29 to beat the Spurs 107-106 on Wednesday night at The Garden.

The “Law & Order: SVU” actress was ecstatic as she and Brunson, who finished with a game-high 36 points, hugged on the court.

“I love you so much, I’m so happy!” Hargitay said.

Before that, she sprinted onto the court and hugged Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, an assistant to Knicks head coach Mike Brown and member of the 1999 New York Knicks team that reached the NBA Finals.

The moment was captured on video by actor Ben Stiller, a fellow diehard Knicks fan who last season described Hargitay as the “envy” or celebrity row.

“The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan. She gets a hug after a loss,” Stiller said on Brunson’s “Roommates” podcast with Josh Hart.

During a recent appearance on the “Today” show, Hargitay described Brunson as “magnificent” and called him “my inspiration.”

She previously said the two became friends when they learned they were fans of each other.

Hargitay sat with her friend, superstar singer Taylor Swift, and singing sisters, Este Haim and Alana Haim, at Game 4 — and they wore matching blue and orange shirts with “Stevie Knicks” written on them.

They were seen jumping up and down after a go-ahead tip-in by Knicks forward OG Anunoby with 1.2 seconds remaining sealed the win over San Antonio.

The Knicks could close out the series in Game 5 in San Antonio on Saturday.

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The Celtics will have roughly $20 million in wiggle room if they want to stay under the luxury tax next season. At their disposal are the $27 million traded player exception generated after dealing Anfernee Simons and the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception. Brad Stevens is on record that he wants to add some rim pressure to the roster and after getting crushed by Joel Embiid in the first round, he could choose to add a penetrating point guard or a back-to-the-basket, rim-rolling big man to solve his team’s problems.

In their 2024 championship run, they really had the best of both worlds. In one offseason, Stevens added Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and the rest is history. It’s unlikely that there are seismic opportunities like that this upcoming July, so the front office might be faced to make a choice between the two.

There are a few options on the table. Could Stevens and Mazzulla convince Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu to be the next starting point guard? With Nikola Vucevic reportedly not returning to Boston, is there a reunion with Porzingis or Robert Williams III in the future? Would the Celtics be willing to part with Derrick White or Sam Hauser to upgrade at the 1 and/or the 5?

With rumors dying down that Giannis Antetokounmpo — a player that would seemingly solve Boston’s problems — isn’t joining the Celtics, what would you do, armchair GM?

These Knicks fans are flying high — very, very high.

As the New York Knicks secured the Game 4 comeback win in the NBA Finals on OG Anunoby’s miraculous put-back shot with 1.2 seconds, you may have heard distant screams from 30,000 feet. 

After Wednesday’s history-making victory over the San Antonio Spurs, a viral video showed nearly every plane passenger on a flight glued to their screens, reacting to the nail-biting matchup together on individual seat screens, and erupting into cheers as the final seconds dropped to the buzzer

“That moment when the Knicks cinch the win on your flight back to New York,” the fan wrote. 

The video was filmed by Kyle Heiner, traveling in the dreamily blue-lit cabin of a Delta flight from Los Angeles International Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

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Another passenger also posted their angle of an excited, jaw-dropped young boy watching from his seat, followed by other passengers cheering in unison around him.

What caught the eye of multiple social media users, however, was the one passenger who was completely oblivious to it all — and while everyone cheered around him, he watched the animated movie Avatar.

“One guy watching Avatar while the whole plane is witnessing history, priorities are crazy,” one poster commented.

“Honestly I kind of admire the focus. He picked his universe and stayed there,” said another.

Even Delta Airlines — the operator of the flight — got in on the action, hailing the commitment of their passengers.

“THIS is community, ONE MORE TO GO,” the Delta Airlines account commented on the video. 

“Folks celebrated in the sky. It’s really that serious,” another user wrote. 

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Other die hard Knicks fans have been gathering to watch the historic run in the wackiest of places, like a funeral home, a planetarium

With the hometown heroes only one game away from winning their first championship in over 50 years, strangers are unifying in their shared joy of witnessing New York sports history. All across the five boroughs, bar watch parties and city streets are filled with electrified fans.

Tens of millions of other people have been catching this week’s nail-biters from more down-to-earth spots. Monday’s matchup was the most-watched Game 3 of the NBA Finals since 1988, Michael Jordan’s last final with the Bulls, raking in 23.8 million viewers.

Emotions were high even for players, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jose Alverado on the verge of tears after the game, and Josh Hart shouting out teammate Anunoby for saving him from a “lifetime of regret” after missing a transition layup with 1.57 seconds left.

The Knicks will face the Spurs in San Antonio on Saturday for the chance to win the finals.

Every game of the NBA Finals will air on ABC. If you don’t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial to cheer on the New York Knicks from home.

Want to be in the room where it happens? Shop NBA Finals tickets on SeatGeek and make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout if you’re a first-time SeatGeek user.

There’s only one reason the Utah Jazz should try to loosen the Washington Wizards’ vice-like grip on the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft: AJ Dybantsa. Combine his elite athleticism, prolific scoring and defensive potential with his close ties with Utah and the Jazz organization and we’re looking at a prospect who could thrill local fans for many years to come. But would the price to wrestle him away from a hungry Wizards team, when potential franchise players like Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer will still be available at number 2, be worth it?

The thought of Dybantsa slotting into the starting line up next to Markkanen, Jackson Jr., Keyonte George and Walker Kessler/Ace Bailey should have every Jazz fan drooling into their Cheerios. He is an elite scorer at all three levels, has an all-round game that opens up the floor and creates scoring opportunities for his teammates, and has the length and athleticism that make him an instant problem for opposing teams.

Dybantsa’s transition to the Jazz would be relatively easy. He has already spent two years in Utah, playing high school and college ball, and his parents are here too, having relocated to Provo when he declared for BYU. For their part the Jazz would be getting a rookie who is already acclimatized to the altitude and community and is more likely to stick around to not only shine in the short term, but to be part of their ultimate push for an NBA Championship.

The Jazz Owner, Ryan Smith, is keeping draft trade options open, telling the Deseret News that “Everything should be on the table” and that “Austin and Danny [Ainge] have also been known to do some pretty crazy stuff on draft night” (Deseret Voices Podcast, 5/12/26). Boston Celtics fans will remember the 2017 NBA draft when Danny Ainge traded the #1 pick to the 76ers to pick up Jason Tatum at #3. At the time this seemed a little crazy, but when you compare Tatum’s career to that of Markelle Fultz, who the 76ers drafted, you begin to see the method behind the madness. Are the Ainges preparing a similar surprise on draft night for the Utah Jazz?

Drafting Dybantsa would certainly put to rest some of the health concerns associated with Darryn Peterson or the worry over Cameron Boozer’s lack of athleticism. But assuming the Wizards are open to a trade, what kind of assets would they expect from the Jazz? You have to remember that Washington had their fans endure a similar slide to the cellar that we experienced here in Utah and are looking to build around recent acquisitions Anthony Davis and Trae Young. They will likely require a hefty (nonrefundable) deposit for the number 1 pick, which will almost certainly involve players and future draft capital.

Would the Jazz consider the loss of a Kyle Filipowski, a Cody Williams, or even an Isaiah Collier, along with a first round pick in the 2027 or 2028 draft? We have a mere 12 days to find out. One thing is for sure: Jazz management is looking at all options (crazy and otherwise) to maximize the return on what could be their most consequential draft in decades.