Spurs blitz Knicks with historic first-half performance in pivotal Game 4 of NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs delivered a stunning first-half performance Wednesday night, taking complete control of Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks and silencing the Madison Square Garden crowd with an offensive explosion.

After falling behind 2-1 in the series, the Spurs played with urgency from the opening tip and raced to a commanding 41-22 lead after the first quarter. It marked the fourth consecutive game in the series that San Antonio won the opening period, but this one was particularly dominant. The Spurs shot 60 percent in the first quarter and knocked down six of their first 10 attempts from three-point range.

Victor Wembanyama once again led the charge for San Antonio. The All-Star center scored 13 first-quarter points on 5-of-7 shooting while controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. New York’s problems were compounded early when Karl-Anthony Towns picked up his second foul just two minutes into the game, forcing Knicks head coach Mike Brown to go to his bench sooner than expected.

Spurs shooting lights out 

Things only got worse for New York in the second quarter. Towns eventually picked up his third foul and returned to the bench with seven minutes remaining before halftime. By that point, the Spurs had built a massive 59-34 advantage and showed no signs of slowing down.

San Antonio’s offensive execution was nearly flawless throughout the half. The Spurs shot an incredible 61 percent from the field and 54 percent from beyond the arc, connecting on 13 of their 21 three-point attempts. Their ball movement, spacing, and shot-making left the Knicks scrambling defensively.

Ironically, New York held a significant advantage at the free-throw line. After Knicks coach Mike Brown voiced concerns earlier in the series about free-throw disparities favoring San Antonio, the Knicks entered halftime with a 22-6 edge in free-throw attempts. However, that advantage did little to offset the Spurs’ scorching shooting performance.

With the Spurs holding a massive halftime lead, New York now faces the daunting challenge of attempting one of the largest comeback victories in NBA Finals history.

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