The New York Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 10, taking a 3-1 series lead. OG Anunoby sealed the win with a putback of a Jalen Brunson miss with 1.2 seconds left. The comeback stands as the largest in Finals history. Houston's earlier 18-point blown lead against these same Knicks now registers as routine rather than catastrophic.

On February 21 at Madison Square Garden the Rockets led by 18 in the fourth quarter before the Knicks rallied for a 108-106 victory. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 25 points and Jalen Brunson added 20 for New York while Kevin Durant led Houston with 30. The Rockets finished the night 34-21. That collapse formed part of a season-long pattern that included a 25-point second-half lead surrendered to the Pelicans in December and an overtime record of 1-8.

Houston's late-game execution exposed structural weaknesses in half-court defense and shot selection that the Knicks exploited repeatedly. The Rockets frequently allowed opponents to generate easy looks after switches or in transition once the lead shrank below double digits. New York's ability to sustain pressure through Brunson pick-and-rolls and Anunoby's versatile defense highlighted how Houston's roster lacked comparable two-way versatility in the final minutes.

The Spurs' even larger meltdown in the Finals underscores a broader league reality. Comebacks of this magnitude reveal more about the winning team's resilience than the losing team's flaws. Houston's front office has prioritized youth and length, yet the pattern of blown leads suggests the roster still requires better late-game decision-makers and a more reliable closer. Rivals have taken note, with multiple teams already targeting similar weaknesses in upcoming drafts and free-agency plans.

Game 5 between the Knicks and Spurs tips off Saturday night in San Antonio. A Knicks win would put them one victory from the franchise's first title since 1973. Houston, meanwhile, must address its fourth-quarter execution before training camp opens in September if it hopes to avoid repeating these collapses next season.