Knicks look to keep momentum as they face Spurs after historic rally

The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA championship since 1973 after completing the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. But despite the historic rally, the Knicks say they cannot afford to repeat the slow starts that have put them in danger throughout the Finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns described the victory as a “hardwood classic” and said the team enjoyed the shock and celebration after erasing a 29-point deficit, but quickly shifted focus back to the next challenge. He said the Knicks understood the morning after that they had to return to work, lock in, and prepare to finish the job. Towns also acknowledged that the comeback should not hide the team’s poor start, saying the Knicks “just didn’t play well at all” and allowed themselves to fall too far behind.

Josh Hart echoed that view, stressing that New York cannot keep digging out of early holes if it hopes to end the series. He said the Knicks were fortunate to recover in Game 4, and even in some of their other wins, but insisted they must do a better job of opening games with more urgency and control. According to Hart, allowing San Antonio to build big leads has given the Spurs confidence despite their struggles in the series.

The Knicks are approaching Game 5 in San Antonio with a mindset of starting over at 0-0, even though they now have three chances to close out the Finals. Towns said the team must bring a sense of desperation and treat every game as if it were the first, warning that the hardest victory to earn is the one that ends an opponent’s season. For New York, the goal is to stay mentally sharp and avoid thinking ahead to the championship before earning it on the court.

Coach Mike Brown said maintaining focus is difficult after a long winning streak and a historic performance. He noted that even successful teams can become a little relaxed when praise and momentum pile up. Brown said the key for the Knicks is to remain present, resist complacency, and not get distracted by the outcome. He framed the challenge as one of discipline and concentration rather than celebration.

The Knicks had won 13 straight playoff games before the Spurs took Game 3, and their dramatic Game 4 comeback has put them on the brink of ending one of the longest title droughts in franchise history. But with San Antonio still alive and showing the ability to build double-digit leads in every game, New York knows the job is not finished.