Category: Basketball

NEW YORK — In sports, sometimes, there are moments that feel impossible. Where it seems that what we have all just borne witness to was script of outrageous fantasy. Where, once it ends, it all feels like a blur.

This was one of those moments.

The New York Knicks absolutely stunned the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday, June 10 in the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, erasing a deficit that had ballooned to 29 points.

And for a team that is seeking its first championship in 53 seasons — now just one victory away — this was, without question, the greatest game in the storied history of this franchise.

The Knicks clamped down on the Spurs with fervor in the second half, with San Antonio missing 28 of their first 34 attempts after intermission. This was a game in which New York completely unraveled in the first half, only to course correct and play their most composed game of the season.

Update: The Knicks pulled off the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. New York erased a 29-point deficit in the second half to shock the Spurs, 107-106. New York now leads the series 3-1. What follows below was published at halftime.

The New York Knicks had the worst start possible in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. The Knicks were forced to pull Karl-Anthony Towns only 62 seconds into the game on Wednesday night after the star center picked up two controversial fouls. From there, the Spurs started a two-way avalanche that helped the team take a 19-point lead into the second quarter, and a 76-49 lead into halftime.

Towns was called for a foul on the very first play of the game when defending De’Aaron Fox on a drive. A couple possessions later, KAT was called for another foul after the refs reviewed his drive to the basket and determined he hooked Victor Wembanyama on his way to the rim.

Those weren’t the only calls the Madison Square Garden crowd was upset about. There was an apparent missed goaltend on Spurs center Luke Kornet, plus a botched out of bounds call that favored San Antonio. Knicks fans also won’t love that big man Mitchell Robinson was called for a flagrant-1 for hitting Wemby with a forearm to the head after the French star got away with decking Jalen Brunson in Game 3.

The refs didn’t tell the whole story for the Spurs’ dominant start. The Spurs shot 65 percent from the field in the first quarter while the Knicks shot 29 percent. San Antonio didn’t turn the ball over while New York turned it over four times. San Antonio was getting easy looks and hitting everything, while the Knicks’ offense was stuck in the mud.

The officiating was a storyline after Game 3, with Mike Brown pleading with the refs for more consistency after the Spurs shot 10 more free throws in a tight win. It’s bound to be a storyline again after Game 4. Watch the calls for yourself and be the judge. First, let’s start with Towns’ first foul on the very first play of the game:

I don’t love that call so early in the game, especially after the refs allowed so much physicality earlier in the series.

The second foul on Towns was more legit to me. This was originally ruled a foul on Wembanyama, but San Antonio challenged, and the refs overturned the call. Towns clearly hooks Wemby on his drive and holds it all the way to the rim before the Spurs star gets a clean block. Watch the play here:

There are sharp basketball minds who disagree with this foul call on Towns, but ultimately Towns hooked him, and I don’t think Wembanyama had the opportunity to get his arm free.

I’m not sure how the refs missed this out of bounds call on Wembanyama:

This also should have been goaltending on Kornet in my opinion.

Wembanyama was also taunting Robinson, which appeared to coax the Knicks backup big into a flagrant foul. First, Wembanyama hit Robinson was a beautiful pirouette to finish a layup. Wembanyama started barking at Robinson as they ran down the other end, and when the Spurs star got a little too close for his liking, Robinson decked him with a forearm to the neck.

The refs reviewed the play and determined it was a flagrant-1 on Robinson. Wembanyama called and pointed to his noggin, appearing to say “I’m in your head.”

The refs aren’t the reason the Knicks got smoked in the first half of Game 4. San Antonio’s offense was just too spectacular, while New York couldn’t get anything going. Still, the early foul calls on Towns were a game-changer, and the inconsistent nature of the officiating throughout the series has put players on both teams in a bad spot.

The refs allowed a ton of physicality in the first three games. In Game 4, the officials were even calling some ticky-tack fouls, and it clearly took the Knicks out of their rhythm. It also made Madison Square Garden go eerily silent.

The Knicks won the first two games in San Antonio. The Spurs won Game 3, and they’re already routing the Knicks through the first half of Game 4. Two days ago, it seemed like this might be a sweep. Not anymore.

The 2026 Finals feel like they’re just getting started. This series couldn’t be more intense.

Victor Wembanyama walked away clean when the NBA decided not to punish him for shoving Jalen Brunson in Game 3. On Wednesday night, he made sure Mitchell Robinson and everyone on the court remembered it too.

“I’m in your head,” Wembanyama said with a smile as he pointed to his head.

That was after Robinson was hit with a flagrant foul for a forearm to Wembanyama’s chin. Madison Square Garden erupted.

Wemby provokes Mitch into a flagrant. Spurs up 19 pic.twitter.com/GqWXrnuIsp

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 11, 2026

The flagrant came with the Knicks already in deep trouble. Karl-Anthony Towns had picked up two fouls in the game’s second minute, the Spurs had hit six of 10 3-pointers and led 41-22 after the first quarter. Wembanyama had 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting when Robinson fouled him. He hit both free throws and pushed the lead to 39-20.

It was the latest episode of an officiating controversy that has shadowed this series since Game 2.

More: Spurs vs. Knicks live updates, highlights, where to watch NBA Finals Game 4

The day before, the league reviewed the play after San Antonio’s 115-111 win at Madison Square Garden and decided to not upgrade Wembanyama’s shove to a flagrant foul, despite NBA head of officiating Monty McCutchen going on ESPN to acknowledge that the officials got it wrong.

Wembanyama shoved Brunson hard with both hands as Brunson tried to set a screen. Brunson didn’t fall all the way to the floor but he had to brace himself from the push, which drew an immediate reaction from the MSG crowd. Brunson got up and got in Wembanyama’s face before the game moved on.

No foul was called. No review was triggered at the time.

With the San Antonio Spurs currently taking on the New York Knicks in the NBA finals, Spurs star Devin Vassell reflected on his history with Gwinnett in an interview with the Players’ Tribune. Vassell, who grew up in the community, attended Suwanee Peachtree Ridge (Ga.)

Growing up in Gwinnett County, the Spurs star revealed his inspiration during his varsity days and onwards was Comets legend Lou Willams. Following the conclusion of his varsity career, Williams was the leading scorer in Georgia high school basketball history.

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“Every hooper got that one guy from their hometown that made them fall in love with the game. Everybody got that guy. For me? That was Lou Will. Lou went to South Gwinnett, so when I was growing up, all I heard was story after story about him.” Vassell revealed in an interview with the Players Tribune.

Helping to guide the Comets to a 5A state title in his junior year, South Gwinnett overcame Tifton Tift County (Ga.) in the championship final. By the end of his career, he had totaled over 3,390 career points, choosing to declare for the NBA instead of playing D1 basketball.

To honor his accolades, William’s varsity school presented him with more than just a shirt retirement. Renaming their entire gym as “LouWillVille”, forever etching him in Gwinnett history in 2020.

“They used to start off pretty much every game with a lob play to Lou. He’d get an early look at the rim and score. Right out the gate. The crowd would already be standing in the bleachers before the ball dropped through the hoop. Everybody had seen it happen enough times to know it was going in. I’ll never forget how the gym would go crazy for like the whole game.” Vassell stated in his interview.

Unlike Williams, the Spurs guard never had his championship moment. However, he did have experience as the leading man in his senior year, averaging 21.6 points and reaching the Elite Eight of the GHSA Class AAAAAAA state championship. And with his current NBA career, he has had the same impact on other fans that Williams had on him.

“He gives our guys hope that they can be the next guy,” Peachtree Ridge head coach Jordan Griffin told WSBTV Atlanta news.

And at just 25, Vassell can also do something Williams never did in his seventeen-year NBA career. Despite having multiple accolades, including being a three-time NBA sixth man of the year, the Spurs star’s inspiration never won a title. Meanwhile, San Antonio is currently up by a significant amount in New York as they hope to tie the Finals, with Vassell shooting 12 points.

The start of the 2026 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away, which means the Golden State Warriors are working hard to decide what to do with their picks. Mainly, their first-round pick, which lands at No. 11 this year … a number that has produced some elite talent over the years.

Most pre-draft workouts — such as the ones the Warriors reportedly had two weeks ago — feature less-heralded players. Many of the prospects projected to be in play with lottery picks skip individual workouts, with teams already having loads of information on them. Most workouts are for potential second-round picks and undrafted free agents to impress and form relationships with teams.

But there are always a few big-name players whose workouts get reported, and one is headed to the Bay Area. According to reporter Marc Stein, the Dubs will work out Michigan star big man Yaxel Lendeborg on Thursday.

Lendeborg has become a popular pick to end up on the Warriors in recent mock drafts. SB Nation’s own draft expert Ricky O’Donnell mocked the 6’9 NCAA champion to the Dubs, saying that he “has unique physical gifts that will help him adjust to the NBA level quickly.”

The Puerto Rico-born Lendeborg is only projected to be available to the Warriors because of his age. He spent three years at a junior college before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons, and ending his career with one title-lifting year at Michigan. Lendeborg was unquestionably one of the top players in college basketball last year, as he was a consensus First Team All-American, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year, but he’ll turn 24 right about as his first NBA training camp is getting underway.

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.

We’ll have to wait until June 23 to see if Lendeborg is still available at No. 11, and if the Warriors take him if he is. But after Thursday, they should have a better idea as to whether they want to or not.

Editor's Note: Click here for live coverage of Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

The NBA Finals are heating up.

The San Antonio Spurs hope to take their momentum after getting their first win of the series two nights ago to pull even in Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10. The New York Knicks are determined to get their first NBA Finals win at Madison Square Garden since 1999.

This is only the second time in NBA Finals history that the first three games in the title series were won by the road team.

In the tunnel for Game 4, players from both teams looked extremely focused. Pants were the statement piece for this matchup. There was checkerboard, leather and more.

Here is the NBA Finals Game 4 Fit Check:

7. Victor Wembanyama - San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama looked a little bit like he rolled out of bed in this comfy outfit. But the checkerboard pants and lemon yellow Nike sneakers show that he did have some intention with it. The pants are super long, which is right on trend.

View this post on Instagram

6. Stephon Castle - San Antonio Spurs

Stephon Castle took a break from his cozy fits and broke out the Chrome Hearts pants. His are a gritty gray color with pink crosses. He paired them with a longsleeve white Black Flag graphic tee and some black Jordan IVs.

View this post on Instagram

5. Jordan Clarkson - New York Knicks

Jordan Clarkson went with another all-black look for Game 3. This one wasn't quite as exciting as his best-dressed fit for Game 1. He played with proportions here, opting for a flowy button-up shirt with high-water trousers and patent boots.

Jordan Clarkson went with another all-black look.#NBAFinals

📷 @nyknickspic.twitter.com/lCAaKPKzMM

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) June 10, 2026

4. Mohamed Diawara - New York Knicks

Mohamed Diawara was ready for work in this gray chore jacket. It fits him well and he was smart to wear all black underneath with matching gray sneakers.

Mohamed Diawara is ready for work!#NBAFinals

📷 @nyknickspic.twitter.com/d8cRdqLqlP

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) June 10, 2026

3. Karl-Anthony Towns - New York Knicks

Karl-Anthony Towns repped his team in a really cool vintage jacket. It was orange and blue and had a white star that stretched across the back, across the sleeve and onto the front. The New York Knicks center let the jacket do the talking and wore it with well-fitting chinos and white sneakers.

Karl-Anthony Towns wore this super cool vintage jacket in team colors.#NBAFinals

📷 @nyknickspic.twitter.com/Lqm0SQXcAv

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) June 10, 2026

2. Devin Vassell - San Antonio Spurs

Devin Vassell's bold choices continue to impress. The San Antonio Spurs guard wore a cozy black knit sweater with crosses on the arms and turned heads with these luxe burgundy leather pants. The shades, his signature rosary necklace and chunky black boots complete another rockstar look.

Devin Vassell rockin the leather pants. 🎸 #NBAFinals

📷 @spurspic.twitter.com/mGty3RbrgW

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) June 10, 2026

1. Bismack Biyombo - San Antonio Spurs

Bismack Biyombo continues his masterclass in suits. For Game 4, the San Antonio Spurs big man wore a navy suit with stripes embossed in the material. The leather accents at the pockets are an elegant touch. And he went without a tie! *chef's kiss.

Bismack Biyombo continues his masterclass in suits. 🫡#NBAFinals

📷 @spurspic.twitter.com/7X5rfv3PT8

— Victoria Hernandez (@LadyViii) June 10, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks, Spurs best tunnel walk outfits, clothes for NBA Finals Game 4

Madison Square Garden’s Celebrity Row was stacked for Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

Taylor Swift was in the building with best friends Alana and Este Haim after Page Six reportedthat the 14-time Grammy winner was attending Wednesday’s game between the Knicks and the Spurs.

Swift, who owns multiple properties in New York City, and fiancé Travis Kelce, a veteran tight end for the Chiefs, reportedly shelled out about $3 million dollars to rent MSG for their July 3 wedding.

The couple also attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals series between the Knicks and the Cavaliers in Cleveland last month. New York completed a four-game sweep of Cleveland.

Knicks diehards — comedian Tracy Morgan, director Spike Lee, and actors Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet, along with girlfriend Kylie Jenner — all were in attendance.

Celebrity row regulars, actress Mariska Hargitay — aka, a close friend of Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson — rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss, late night host Jimmy Fallon, actor Steve Schirripa, actress Edie Falco and actor Micheal J. Fox, occupied their usual courtside seats.

Giants’ quarterback Jaxson Dart, backup Jameis Winston, running back Tyrone Tracy, running back Cam Skattebo, receiver Odell Beckham, tight end Theo Johnson and former two-time Super Bowl champ with Big Blue, Lawrence Taylor, were all there, as well as Jets owner Woody Johnson.

Other notable celebs in attendance included Hailey Bieber, Adam Sandler, Tate McRae, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock, Liam Neeson, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Matthew Modine, Julianne Moore, Jimmy Fallon and Jerry Seinfeld.

The heightened security measures that were in place outside of MSG for Monday’s Game 3 — when President Donald Trump attended and sat in a suite with Knicks owner James Dolan — rolled over to Game 4, the New York Police Department said in an advisory.

Fans were instructed to leave their bags at home and arrive early to be screened in the secure zone, which was set up around the arena.

The watch party for Game 4 outside of MSG was a ticketed event with only one entrance and no reentry, per the NYPD.

The rematch of the 1999 finals, a 4-1 series win by the Spurs, has New Yorkers celebrating all over the city — with some contributing to chaos fueled by the rivalry.

After San Antonio’s 115-111 road win over New York in Game 3, Spurs players were greeted with boos from a crowd of people waiting outside the Ritz Carlton in New York on Tuesday.

This came after massive brawls broke out in the street outside of a NBA Finals watch party at Bryant Park after San Antonio cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1 in a thriller at Madison Square Garden.

A total of 21 people were taken into custody after an “incredibly reckless” post-game reaction that resulted in multiple injuries and people piled on top of police cars, the NYPD said.

Two people were charged with assault on a police officer, and five cops were hurt.

The 2026 NBA Finals shifts back to San Antonio for Game 5, with Game 6 taking place in New York. If necessary, a Game 7 will be hosted by the Spurs.

As each individual player was introduced during the starting lineup ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, one name drew more noise from the Madison Square Garden crowd than any other.

The loudest reaction wasn't the boisterous cheering for any of the Knicks stars; it was the torrential rain of boos aimed at Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.

Victor Wembanyama is introduced to the Madison Square Garden crowd before the game pic.twitter.com/umaBkYYNkJ

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 11, 2026

In Game 3, Wembanyama finally made his tremendous impact felt on this series, but not without drawing the ire of the New York faithful in the process.

For many fans, they'll remember that game not for Wembanyama's efforts to lead the Spurs to victory - scoring 32 points, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing six assists, and dominating defensively with three blocks and two steals - but for his physical altercation with Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson during the first quarter.

Wembanyama was not assessed with a foul on the play, clearly a missed call by the officials. And the NBA decided not to give the Spurs center a flagrant foul upon review of the play on Tuesday.

Asked for his thoughts about the league not handing Wembanyama a retroactive Flagrant-1 foul, Knicks head coach Mike Brown said on Wednesday that the “league is gonna do what they’re gonna do” and that “you gotta live with it.”

“They ain’t gonna listen to me, they ain't gonna listen to nobody else,” Brown said, adding that he gave his thoughts on the officiating in Game 3 after the game, and, “you just hope at the end of the day, everything is consistent on both ends throughout the whole game, that’s it.

“It is what it is.”

Brown said that he spoke with his team about those situations and, during the game, to the referees that, “Stuff like that can cause a fight.” 

“Obviously, they didn’t see it," he said, adding later, “If it happens in the future, fingers crossed the officials see it and call it, but again, it’s out of my control. The officials are human; they’re gonna miss stuff. You hope that they miss stuff for both teams, but they’re gonna miss stuff.”

Following the Spurs' 115-111 victory to gain a toehold in the series, Brunson was short with his answer on the incident. "Whatever you saw is what you saw," the diminutive point guard, who scored 32 points of his own, said.

Reserve guard Jose Alvardo issued his own warning.

“I think that’s not basketball,” Alvarado said Tuesday. “That’s something that they gotta look at. But he got away with one. That’ll be the last one.”

For his part, Wembanyama clearly has no qualms about becoming public enemy number one in New York City. He smiled as he answered questions about his newfound status as the Knicks' newest villain, but also paid homage to an unforgettable fellow foe from recent playoff history, chuckling as he remarked that he is "nowhere near Trae Young's level."

Ultimately, the outcome of this series will determine where the lanky French 22-year-old lands in the pantheon of all-time Knicks villains.

Boos for Victor Wembanyama in pregame warmups pic.twitter.com/c6ZdwXG4dV

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 11, 2026

Victor Wembanyama received the villain treatment Wednesday night. 

San Antonio’s’ 7-foot-4 unicorn was lustily booed in pre-game introductions ahead of the Knicks’ historic 107-106 comeback win over the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.

Fans then chanted, “F–k you, Wemby,” for the second straight game after the Spurs challenged a foul call on the big man a little more than a minute into the game.

Wembanyama was awesome in Game 3, exploding for 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. He scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds but also picked up a flagrant foul in their Game 4 loss.

The early Game 4 booing was more a byproduct of him throwing Jalen Brunson to the court in the first quarter of Game 3.

The NBA opted against retroactively ruling it a flagrant foul. 

“Hey, the league’s going to do what they’re going to do,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said before Game 4. “They ain’t going to listen to me. They ain’t going to listen to nobody else.”

Wembanyama already has two penalty points for being issued a Flagrant 2 foul in the Western Conference semifinals against the Timberwolves.

A Flagrant 1 foul is one penalty point.

If a player gets up to four penalty points in the postseason, an automatic one-game suspension is given.

Madison Square Garden is always full of stars, and that remained the case Wednesday for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

One of those stars? Taylor Swift.

Page Six reported Wednesday that she was expected to be in attendance at the Mecca, which also happens to be her wedding venue this summer.

Swift is set to marry Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden on July 3.

Her appearance at MSG on Wednesday night — alongside singing sisters Este and Alana Haim — comes a month after she and Kelce attended Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals in Cleveland, a series the Knicks swept in four games.

The trio wore t-shirts in blue and orange, Knicks’ colors, that said: “Stevie Knicks.”

Swift and the Haim sisters all are friends with Knicks.

They were seen cheering in their courtside seats — and at one point, Swift blew a kiss to the camera while shown on the ABC broadcast.

“She’s a huge fan of the Knicks and really wants to be there to support them. She is going with friends,” a source told Page Six early Wednesday.

Swift’s presence and attire further solidifies her loyalty to the New York, where she has upheld residency since 2014, purchasing multiple properties through the years.

The “Welcome to New York” singer has attended multiple Knicks games in years past, often sporting the blue and orange.

Kelce was not in attendance Wednesday, as his Chiefs are in the midst of mandatory minicamps.

The Nuggets are moving on from two broadcasters after multiple decades together.

Altitude Sports has decided not to renew contracts with either Scott Hastings or Chris Marlowe as part of a talent shakeup.

Marlowe has spent the last 22 years working as the team’s regional TV play-by-play announcer.

“All good things must come to an end,” Marlowe wrote on social media. “I wanted to let you know personally that I will not be returning as the play-by-play announcer for the Denver Nuggets next season. Altitude Sports is moving in a different direction and decided not to renew my contract.”

The former Olympic volleyball player has spent 40 years as a broadcaster, covering events such as USC basketball, college football, and NCAA championships in swimming, gymnastics and volleyball, in addition to his Nuggets duties.

Marlowe made it clear in his statement that he has no plans to retire.

Hastings, an 11-year NBA veteran as a player, is also a sports broadcasting staple, especially in Denver, having spent time with the Broncos before his role at Altitude Sports.

Team reporter and studio analyst Chris Dempsey was also let go.

Altitude Sports was founded in 2004 as a regional sports cable and satellite television channel owned by Stan Kroenke’s Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.

Kroenke also owns the Nuggets, Avalanche, Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal FC.

“For more than a decade, Chris Marlowe, Scott Hastings and Chris Dempsey have been synonymous with Nuggets basketball, bringing energy, insight and a genuine love of the game to every broadcast,” president of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment media ventures Steve Smith said in a statement to the Denver Post.

“They have been part of many of the most memorable moments in franchise history, including the 2023 championship run, and have helped shape how generations of fans experience Nuggets basketball. Each has been an outstanding ambassador for our organization, leaving a lasting impact on our company, our fans, and the broader Nuggets community.”

Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

When: Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 PM EST

How to watch: ABC

Betting Line: NY -2.5 (subject to change), O/U 216.5 (subject to change) via FanDuel

Here we are again. Another NBA Finals game. The Spurs narrowly won game three with some clutch shooting, both of shots from the floor, and free throws. Now that the series isn’t going to be a sweep, will be get something other than “Assault: It’s not assault if you’re from South Texas.” reffing. We have Zach Zarba on the call, and in the conference finals, I’ve liked his refereeing the most.I’m not sure how the Knicks got away from having KAT cook Wemby off the dibble, but they did.

Anyhow, it should be interesting, and you can talk about it all right here!

The Knicks enter Game Four with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. First they must correct the offensive issues that led to their 115-111 loss in Game Three. While the Spurs deserve credit for defensive adjustments centered around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, New York’s biggest problems were self-inflicted: stagnant ball movement, costly turnovers, and a reliance on iso-ball that produced just 18 assists and squandered quality scoring opportunities.

One poor shooting night does not erase six weeks of dominant basketball, but New York will need more from Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and the supporting cast while also doing a better job protecting possessions and containing Wembanyama. No easy task. Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Hold onto your humanity, it’s about to get wild in here. And go Knicks!

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much. The rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.

What a difference a game makes! The Spurs went into the Garden on Monday night needing a win to stay alive in the series, because being down 3-0 in a seven game series in the NBA is a death sentence. The conventional wisdom was that the hostile and chaotic atmosphere of Madison Square Garden would throw the Spurs off balance and benefit the Knicks, when the reality was that the Silver and Black were the more poised team in Game 3. This team really showed that the are at their best when they have to perform by winning Game 7 against the Thunder in Oklahoma City to advance to the finals, and they delivered a similar performance in Game 3 of the Finals.

The Spurs turned things around because they went full Popovich in Game 3, and gave the Knicks some nasty, which the fans REALLY didn’t appreciate. I had a discussion with a coworker this morning and we agreed that the Finals against the Knicks are not the most rigorous series that the Spurs have played in the postseason, because both the Minnesota and Thunder series were more physical. But it seems like hell to the Knicks fans, who danced through the first three rounds against feather-soft opponents. They’ve cultivated a narrative where Victor Wembanyama is a diabolical combination of Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jack the Ripper, because he threw a guy who was pulling on his jersey to the ground¹. TO THE GROUND! Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that about half of the lyrics of the Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer² are in French.

Stephon Castle did about the best job that anyone can do on Brunson. He got his points, but they were inefficient, and he didn’t get anyone else involved in the offense. Dylan Harper had another fantastic outing for the Silver and Black, and Victor Wembanyama contributed magic from beginning to end. The Spurs are going to have to bring that kind of effort again tonight, because the Knicks are going to put together their best effort tonight. Devin Vassell was relatively quiet in Game 3, and a breakout game from him would be an asset for the road team.

A win tonight ties up the series, making a three game series with the Spurs having two at home. If the lose tonight, the Silver and Black need to win three games in a row to take home the trophy, which is a much tougher road. It’s going to be the most pivotal game of the series, just like the last one was. GO SPURS GO!!

1. It should have been called a foul, but the refs missed it in real time. I thought it was possibly a Flagrant 1 foul, but the league office reviewed it the following day and ruled that it wasn’t.
2. David Byrne was extremely prescient when he wrote that song in 1974. Victor hates people when they’re not polite. Maybe the Knicks should fa-fa-fa-fa run away …

Game Prediction:

KAT gets in a fight with Brunson because Jalen never passes the ball to him.

San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 4
June 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT
Streaming: ESPN
TV: ABC
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