Knicks’ Historic Comeback Against Spurs in 2026 NBA Finals

The New York Knicks made NBA history by outscoring the San Antonio Spurs by 28 points after halftime, achieving the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Trailing by 29 points at one stage, the Knicks surged forward, electrifying Madison Square Garden.

At the start, the Spurs dominated the first half, leaving the Knicks struggling to find momentum. The Knicks’ difficulty in countering the Spurs’ advantage was evident.

Victor Wembanyama, a central figure in the game, admitted, “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.” His experience in New York was tense, with boos and negative remarks from the crowd. Initial fouls called against him added to the strained atmosphere.

“I’m in your head!”

Wembanyama seemed to thrive on the crowd’s hostility. Yet, as the game progressed, the Knicks dismantled the Spurs’ earlier lead. The Spurs, who managed only 30 points in the second half and committed nine turnovers, saw their significant lead evaporate quickly.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson reflected on the missed opportunity, “To put as much good work into that first half as we did and get the lead that we had and not finish the job, it’s disappointing to say the least… We got away from playing the brand of basketball that got us the lead.” He emphasized the need for resilience in upcoming games.

Wembanyama conveyed the team’s resolve to recover from the setback: “It’s going to go one of two ways: a bad one and a good one. The bad one will be giving up. The good one will be getting stronger through this.” The Spurs must now win the next three games in a row to prevent the Knicks from claiming their first championship since 1973.

Post-game comments from Wembanyama stressed unity within the team: “Holding each other accountable, communicating, not pointing fingers. We’ve proven that we can surpass these difficulties.” His optimism points to a determined effort to rebound from the loss.