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For six straight quarters, the Knicks’ defense had been a hot mess.
Throughout Game 3, the Spurs were getting deep in the paint at will — 40 of their 84 shots came at, or within five feet, of the rim, including some spectacular Victor Wembanyama alley-oops. After posting a 104.1 offensive rating in a Game 2 loss, the Spurs picked apart the Knicks’ defense to the tune of a 119.1 offensive rating in Game 3.
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That turned out just to be the appetizer. The Knicks’ defense was even worse in the first half against a Spurs team that could not seem to miss, allowing a 161.4 offensive rating to a San Antonio squad up 27 at halftime. Knicks’ rotations were late, if they happened at all, and their transition defense felt non-existent.
Then, in the third quarter of Game 4, the Knicks completely flipped the script.
The entire historic 29-point comeback — including the iconic tip-in game-winner by OG Anunoby — does not happen without New York first stringing together stops. New York put together good defensive possession after good possession, following six quarters of failing to do exactly that.
New York held the Spurs to just 30 second-half points on 8-of-39 shooting, 3-of-17 from 3-point range and forced nine turnovers.
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“Really, we didn’t change much. We basically kept the same game plan,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “But defensively, we just did it harder for longer stretches, and we were really in tune to what we were supposed to be doing. Our level of physicality increased without sending them to the free-throw line, as well, which is huge.”
“Probably just our contests were better. Just like 1% better,” Anunoby said. “Just a little bit better. Getting out faster and making sure every shot is contested and then finish possessions with rebounds and then running out, moving the ball, taking good shots, shooting open shots, not hesitating.”
The Spurs more than helped contribute to their own demise. A team that had spent six quarters making a point of getting downhill met some resistance and just stopped, falling in love with the 3-pointer and pull-up jumpers — San Antonio scored just four points…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/knicks-historic-comeback-started-defense-162847468.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-11 16:28:00
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