Carmelo Anthony on the Knicks’ Game 4: “The greatest comeback ever”
Carmelo Anthony has joined the chorus of praise: in his view, the Knicks’ comeback from 29 points down in Game 4 is the greatest ever. New York now holds a commanding 3-1 series lead
There are games that redefine the very concept of sports logic, nights when Madison Square Garden sheds its identity as an arena and becomes a mythical stage.
Trailing by as many as 29 points in a Game 4 that seemed destined to belong to San Antonio, the New York Knicks completed the biggest, wildest and most improbable comeback in NBA Finals history.
The final score of 107-106 is more than just a result in the box score: it gives New York a 3-1 lead in the series, delivers what could be the decisive psychological blow to the Spurs, and places the franchise just one win away from a championship that has eluded the Big Apple for 53 years.
Providing perspective on what unfolded on the Garden floor – transformed into complete chaos after OG Anunoby’s game-winning tip-in – was a witness who experienced the pressure of New York basketball firsthand for seven seasons: Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
Speaking to KNICKS ON MSG immediately after the final buzzer, Melo expressed the astonishment felt throughout the basketball world:
This has to be considered one of the greatest games and one of the greatest comebacks ever seen in NBA history
Carmelo Anthony
The game’s story quickly gave way to the record books. Until now, the largest comeback in an NBA Finals series belonged to the 2008 Boston Celtics, who erased a 24-point deficit against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Knicks shattered that mark, escaping a 29-point hole thanks to a collective performance for the ages.
The moment that shook the foundations of Manhattan arrived with just 1.2 seconds remaining. With the teams separated by a single point, OG Anunoby crashed the offensive glass, attacking the paint and converting a tip-in after a missed layup attempt by Jalen Brunson. It was the basket that completed the comeback. Anunoby finished a legendary night with 33 points, while Brunson spearheaded the rally with 36 of his own.
Anthony’s comments reflect the magnitude of an evening that transformed what was supposed to be a comfortable Spurs victory into a defining snapshot of the Knicks’ new era. On Friday night, in Game 5, New York will have its first opportunity in San Antonio to close out the series, end a championship drought spanning more than five decades and cement its place in basketball history.