The Knicks lead 2-1 and come home. After absorbing the Spurs' first real punch in Game 3 on Monday night, New York returns to Madison Square Garden for Game 4 on Wednesday, June 10 (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Win and the Knicks are champions for the first time since 1973. Lose and the series shifts back to San Antonio with everything to play for.
Series state: Knicks have the edge, Spurs showed life
New York won the first two games — including a Jalen Brunson-inspired 30-point Game 1 — and looked ready to close this out quickly. Then Victor Wembanyama put San Antonio on his back in Game 3, turning MSG's confidence into nervousness over the final six minutes. The Spurs cut the deficit to 2-1 with a road win and head back to New York as the challenger rather than the favourite — but with genuine belief they can steal the series.
The dynamic has shifted. A Knicks team that seemed in full control now has to hold serve at home against a side that just proved they can win in that building. San Antonio plays with house money: nobody expected them here, and every extra game is a bonus.
The Wembanyama problem
Victor Wembanyama is the reason the Spurs are still breathing. He is the most disruptive two-way center the Finals has featured in a generation — long enough to contest pull-up jumpers at the rim, quick enough to switch onto guards without fouling, and increasingly comfortable creating his own offense in late-clock situations. The Knicks have no clean answer. They have been alternating Isaiah Hartenstein and Mitchell Robinson on pick coverage, and neither scheme has fully contained him for a full game.
Expect Tom Thibodeau to try more drop coverage in Game 4 to prevent Wembanyama from camping on the dunker spot — but that opens mid-range pull-ups, exactly where the Frenchman has been feasting. The adjustment game is one the Knicks need to win on their home floor.
Brunson must be Brunson
Jalen Brunson's 30-point Game 1 was the series opener New York had dreamed of. Games 2 and 3 were quieter — efficient but not dominant. For the Knicks to close this out at home, they need the version of Brunson who takes 22 field goal attempts and gets to the foul line nine times, not the 16-attempt version who defers to the motion offense in the third quarter.
The MSG crowd is a genuine advantage. Madison Square Garden at a Game 4 closeout is as loud as basketball gets in the United States, and Brunson has historically been elevated by crowd energy rather than distracted by it. If the Knicks get a fast start and push the noise, the building could swing a close game.
Key matchups to watch
- OG Anunoby on De'Aaron Fox: The Spurs' second scorer has been quietly excellent in this series, finding scoring angles whenever Wembanyama draws the double-team. Anunoby's length and physicality are the Knicks' best answer — expect Thibodeau to lean hard on him in ball-denial situations.
- Josh Hart on the glass: Hart's rebounding in Games 1 and 2 effectively killed San Antonio second chances. He was quieter on the boards in Game 3, and the Spurs converted four offensive rebounds into six points. Whether Hart corrals those loose balls in Game 4 may matter as much as any shot.
- San Antonio's three-point defense: The Knicks are shooting a below-average 35.1% from three across the Finals. If that ticks even to 37%, San Antonio's margin evaporates. Expect the Spurs to crowd the perimeter and dare New York to beat them off the dribble.
Game 4 logistics: how to watch
Game 4 tips off Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Coverage is on ABC and ESPN, with streaming available through the ESPN app. If the Knicks win, the city ends a 53-year championship drought. If the Spurs win, Game 5 is Saturday night in San Antonio and the series takes another turn.
Prediction
The MSG crowd, Brunson's closeout motivation, and the weight of history all point toward a Knicks win. New York has been the superior team across the bulk of this series, and home closeout games run at roughly 70% success rate in playoff history. Expect a tighter contest than Game 1 or 2 — the Spurs will not go quietly — but the Knicks' depth wears San Antonio's rotation thin in the fourth quarter.
Knicks win Game 4 and take the series.
FAQ
What time does NBA Finals Game 4 start? 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 10, on ABC.
Where is Game 4 being played? Madison Square Garden, New York City. The Knicks are the home team.
If the Spurs win Game 4, where is Game 5? San Antonio, on Saturday, June 13.
How can I follow live scores? Check Scorelisto's basketball live scores for real-time updates throughout the game.