The San Antonio Spurs were on the verge of making NBA history for all the right reasons. Instead, they’ll be remembered for one of the most devastating collapses in Finals history — and rookie Dylan Harper is reportedly still replaying the final sequence in his head.
With just 5.7 seconds left on the clock and the Spurs clinging to a one-point lead in Game 4, Jalen Brunson launched a deep three that clanked off the rim. What happened next will haunt San Antonio fans for years: OG Anunoby soared in for the game-winning tip-in, sealing a 29-point comeback that instantly became legendary.
Harper, the rookie who was closest to Anunoby on the play, didn’t shy away from the moment when asked about it after the game. “It bounced off the rim the right way, he tipped it in the right way, and it went in,” Harper admitted, via SNY. “I could say that I wish I could’ve done this, I wish I could’ve done that, but at the end of the day, he tipped the ball, and it went in the rim.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: sources close to the situation say Harper believes he may have inadvertently helped the Knicks forward. “I definitely thought I had a hand on it. I helped put the ball in the rim,” Harper reportedly confessed. Insiders say the rookie’s brutal honesty is being praised inside the Spurs locker room, but it’s also raising questions about whether San Antonio’s youth was exposed under the brightest lights.
How the Play Unfolded — and Why It ‘Could Change Everything’ for the Knicks
De’Aaron Fox was initially guarding Anunoby, but he made a split-second decision to double-team Brunson on the perimeter. That left Anunoby with a clear path to the rim — and he delivered a tip-in that some insiders are already calling the greatest shot in Knicks history. According to reports, the Knicks bench erupted, and the Madison Square Garden crowd reportedly reached a decibel level rarely seen in Finals history.
Anunoby didn’t just win the game with that tip-in. He had already posted 33 points on a blistering 10-of-15 from the field, including 7-of-9 from deep and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. For the series, he’s averaging 23.8 points on absurd shooting splits — .580/.556/.917 — and he’s reportedly making a serious push for Finals MVP. FanDuel Sportsbook now lists him at +250, trailing only Jalen Brunson (-120) for the award.
The Spurs’ Fourth-Quarter Collapse: What Really Happened
The Spurs led by 29 points early in the fourth quarter. What followed was a nightmare of historic proportions. Over the final 22 minutes, San Antonio scored just 27 points, shot 7-of-36 from the field, and 2-of-15 from three, while committing eight turnovers. According to team insiders, the Spurs’ offense ground to a halt when they turned to Fox in the closing minutes — and the veteran guard struggled mightily, shooting just 1-of-5 in the period, including that shocking layup attempt that Anunoby blocked to set up the game-winner.
Harper, for his part, was excellent — 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting — but he didn’t attempt a single shot in the final 10 minutes. Sources say there’s growing frustration among some Spurs players about the offensive hierarchy in crunch time, though nothing has been confirmed publicly.
As the Knicks celebrate a 3-1 series lead, the Spurs are left wondering what could have been. Harper’s candid admission might be the most honest — and painful — takeaway from a night that will be remembered for generations.
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