Victor Wembanyama didn’t look for excuses. The morning after blowing a 29-point lead against the Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Spurs’ franchise player gave an assessment that was blunt and, frankly, uncommon at this level.
“I think it’s just execution, greediness of some sort,” Wembanyama said. “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”
He’s right. San Antonio outscored New York 76-49 through two quarters, drilling 14 three-pointers in the first half alone (an NBA Finals record for a single half), then scored just 30 points over the final 24 minutes. A 46-point swing. No lead survives that.
A 3-1 hole, one game left at home
The Knicks lead the 2026 NBA Finals 3-1. Game 5 is Saturday at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Win and the series goes back to New York. Lose, and the Spurs’ season ends in front of their home fans.
Wembanyama (24 pts, 13 reb, 3 blocks on 9-of-25 shooting) put up numbers but couldn’t lift San Antonio when it mattered. He sees two paths forward: “The good one will be getting stronger through this, being more together, and I know this is what we’re going to do.” Earlier during the game – before the collapse – cameras caught him telling a Knicks player: “I’m in your head.” It didn’t age well.
Jalen Brunson (36 pts, 7 ast, 3 stl) brought the Knicks back from the dead. OG Anunoby tipped in a missed Brunson three with 1.2 seconds left for the 107-106 win, completing the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history. Anunoby finished with 33 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three.
What Saturday means
Knicks coach Mike Brown called Anunoby’s putback “the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball.” New York is one win from its first championship since 1973. The Knicks have won eight straight road games and have every reason to close this out away from Madison Square Garden.
For San Antonio, home court isn’t a guarantee – it’s a lifeline. Wembanyama needs to be dominant and efficient, not just present. His teammates need to look like an NBA Finals team in the second half. They didn’t in Game 4, and they know it.
Bottom line:
- Wembanyama’s post-game admission – “greediness of some sort” – was as honest as it gets for a 22-year-old in his first Finals
- The Spurs blew the largest lead in Finals history (29 points) and scored just 30 second-half points; they can’t repeat that at home
- Game 5, Saturday at Frost Bank Center – San Antonio’s season and Wembanyama’s first title shot are both on the line
Sources: NBA.com – ESPN – Yahoo Sports
