NBA Finals: De'Aaron Fox's gaffe helps give Game 4 away for good in Knicks' historic comeback
The New York Knicks have completed the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history. They owe a very big "thank you" to De'Aaron Fox for leaving the door open.
The final 20 seconds of the game saw the Knicks complete a 29-point comeback win, but they also saw the San Antonio Spurs guard commit an unbelievable gaffe. With the Spurs up by one point, they got a much needed stop when a Jalen Brunson drive resulted in a loose ball bouncing into Knicks' territory.
Fox, one of the fastest players in the NBA, chased the ball down with about 13 seconds remaining on the game clock.
It was at that point the nine-year veteran had a few choices: A) dribble the ball away from the Knicks, who will likely foul you and give you a chance to put your team up by three without much time left, B) call your final timeout for a chance to reset everything and put the ball in the hands of your best free-throw shooter or C) go for the layup with OG Anunoby, a very good defender, breathing down your neck.
Fox chose option "C." His reward was a block by Anunoby and Knicks ball.
One near-backcourt violation by Knicks guard Jose Alvarado later, New York inbounded the ball and took the lead off a tip-in by Anunoby with 1.2 seconds left. The Spurs failed to muster a shot in response, handing the Knicks the kind of win that might not only decide this series, but effectively end it.
“I just thought I’d be able to outrun [Anunoby]. That’s it,’ Fox said after the game, via ESPN’sBen Golliver. “I tried to get a layup to get up three. Force them to need a three, and OG made a good block.”
Charles Barkley had a more blunt assessment during ESPN: “That was a dumbass play. He did not have to shoot that ball.”
It was an up-and-down game overall for Fox, who made a key 3-pointer minutes earlier and finished with 18 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers. In the final five minutes, he was 1-of-5 with a turnover. It was a game full of regrets for the Spurs, and he had more than his fair share.
