The San Antonio Spurs had one hand firmly on Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Then everything unraveled over the course of two quarters, turning what looked like a series-changing victory into one of the most painful nights in franchise history.
The 107-106 loss to the New York Knicks will go down as the largest comeback ever completed in the NBA Finals. San Antonio built a 29-point lead and entered halftime ahead 76-49, the largest halftime advantage ever held by a road team in Finals history.
After the game, Victor Wembanyama did not look for excuses.
It was painful, obviously. We worked too hard to throw away our leads. That’s just what happened. It hurts
Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs’ collapse after a perfect first half
For two quarters, San Antonio played nearly flawless basketball. The Spurs shot 59.6% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range, knocking down 14 threes in the first 24 minutes. Among the key contributors was Devin Vassell, who played a major role in building the massive lead.
After halftime, however, Mitch Johnson’s team completely fell apart. The Spurs shot just 20.5% from the field, a dreadful 17.6% from beyond the arc, scored only 30 points, and committed nine turnovers.
We got caught up in the moment and missed important shots. It’s disappointing, without a doubt
Mitch Johnson
The animal himself experienced two completely different games in the same night. After scoring 16 first-half points on efficient shooting, the French star struggled badly after the break. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks but shot just 9-for-25 from the field.
I can’t explain what happened. It started before the fourth quarter. In the second half, we weren’t the hungrier team
Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs’ franchise player also accepted part of the blame for the two free throws he missed in the closing minutesmistakes that proved costly in the final possession-by-possession battle.
For San Antonio, it was a devastating blow. In NBA Finals history, only LeBron James’ 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers have ever come back from a 3-1 series deficit.
Wembanyama facing suspension risk
As if the loss were not enough, the Spurs must now pay close attention to Wembanyama’s disciplinary situation.
During the third quarter of Game 4, the French star was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul after striking Karl-Anthony Towns in the chin while battling for position on the perimeter.
It marked the second such incident for Wembanyama during this playoff run. In the Western Conference Semifinals against Minnesota, he was already ejected after a play involving Naz Reid that officials deemed excessive.
Under NBA rules, flagrant fouls carry disciplinary points. Wembanyama has now accumulated three points. One additional point would trigger an automatic one-game suspension.
A detail that could become extremely significant if the series extends further. Before worrying about that scenario, however, the Spurs must first find an immediate response to one of the most painful defeats in recent franchise history.
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