SouthernWorldwide.com – The San Antonio Spurs were on the brink of a significant shift in momentum during the NBA Finals, but that advantage ultimately slipped through their grasp.
Following a deficit that reached as high as 29 points in the second half and even stood at 20 points in the fourth quarter of Game 4 on Wednesday, the New York Knicks orchestrated the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. This remarkable turnaround secured them a commanding 3-1 series lead, instead of heading back to Texas with the series tied at two games apiece.
The Spurs found themselves in a precarious position after dropping the first two games of the series on their home court. However, they managed to salvage a crucial win in Game 3 by overcoming a seven-point deficit. Now, however, all the momentum they had built is effectively gone.
Instead of being questioned about taking the lead in the series, Victor Wembanyama was asked on Friday if he “has a sense of whether the group actually thinks” they can win three consecutive games to clinch the NBA title.
His response indicated a strong sense of belief.
“Yeah, absolutely. Everybody thinks — everybody knows — we’re going to do it,” Wembanyama stated confidently.
The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers stand as the sole team to have successfully completed a comeback after trailing three games to one in the NBA Finals. They achieved this feat against the formidable 73-9 Golden State Warriors, notably winning two of those games on the road in California.
Undoubtedly, the Spurs experienced a moment of disbelief at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. However, Wembanyama conveyed that the time for dwelling on the past is over, and they have moved past the disappointment.
“I wouldn’t say it was so hard to, like, shake off, right? Harder than any other game before, by far, for sure. I mean, now we’re over it. It’s the playoffs. There’s no time to regret things for too long,” he remarked.
Game 5 is scheduled to tip off in San Antonio on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. A victory for the Spurs in this game would force a Game 6, which would then return to New York on Tuesday night. This timing is notable, as it occurs just hours after Wembanyama’s home country of France is set to play Senegal at the nearby MetLife Stadium in the World Cup.
