New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) shoots during Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the San Antonio Spurs, Monday, June 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
During the New York Knicks’ shootaround on Wednesday, coach Mike Brown challenged OG Anunoby, telling the forward he needed to be aggressive as an offensive rebounder. Anunoby had no offensive rebounds in the NBA finals’ first three games. But later that night, after Jalen Brunson missed a 3-pointer, Anunoby ran towards the basket and tipped the ball through the hoop with 1.2 seconds remaining for a one-point lead.
When the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t score on the other end, the Knicks had secured a 107-106 victory, overcoming a 29-point deficit, the largest in finals history, to take a three games to one lead and put Anunoby in franchise lore.
“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Brown said.
While longtime Knicks’ fans may debate Brown’s proclamation, they would no doubt place Anunoby’s tip-in as an iconic moment considering the high-pressure situation. For most of the night at Madison Square Garden, it looked like the series would head back to San Antonio for Saturday’s Game 5 tied at two games apiece, with the road team winning each game. Instead, the Knicks are now one victory away from their first title since 1973.
