Karl-Anthony Towns said the Madison Square Garden crowd deserves credit for New York’s Game 4 turnaround, a 107-106 win over the San Antonio Spurs that left the Knicks one victory from ending a 53-year championship drought.
The third quarter looked like it might swallow everything.
New York Knicks fans watched their team fall behind by as many as 29 points midway through the period in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The momentum had the feel of a runaway—until it didn’t. At Madison Square Garden, the atmosphere shifted, and the crowd stayed with the home team instead of growing restless.
After the Knicks pulled off a stunning 107-106 victory, Karl-Anthony Towns made sure the people in the seats didn’t fade into the background.
“Shout-out to our fans,” Towns said after the game. “They stuck with us. It was an ugly, ugly game. We didn’t bring it in the first half but they stuck with us. They stayed in them seats and they kept cheering for us and they kept finding ways to give us energy.”
Towns’ message landed on the same theme as what happened on the court. New York appeared headed for a devastating loss before the Garden changed the temperature of the series. Rather than turning on the Knicks or heading for the exits. the crowd remained engaged through the comeback—an energy the players clearly felt.
The numbers explain why this win was so hard to dismiss: Jalen Brunson scored 36 points, while OG Anunoby posted a playoff career-high 33. But Towns framed the moment around something less measurable than points.
His appreciation carries extra weight because of his relationship with the franchise. Towns entered the NBA in 2015 as the No. 1 overall pick. Over the years. he built a resume that includes multiple All-Star and All-NBA selections. evolving into one of basketball’s premier big men. When he moved to New York in 2024. the championship pursuit became a shared project—one that has helped turn decades of frustration into real title hope.
With the Knicks now one win away from ending a 53-year championship drought. the crowd’s role in Game 4 is no small subplot. Towns made it the point: in a series defined by momentum. Madison Square Garden helped decide when the turning would finally happen—then refused to look away when the comeback started.
NBA Finals 2026 Knicks vs Spurs Game 4 Karl-Anthony Towns Jalen Brunson OG Anunoby Madison Square Garden championship drought
Crowd was the real MVP lol
29 points?? That’s crazy. I didn’t realize the fans actually helped like that, I thought players just figured it out. But also MSG is basically a character so…
Karl-Anthony Towns said shout out to our fans but like… he plays for the Knicks right? So I mean yeah of course he gonna hype the crowd. Still, how do you let them go up 29 and then act surprised it got loud? Feels like coaching more than fans but okay.
My cousin said they were down 29 and everyone was already leaving (like the normal New York thing) and then the 3rd quarter flipped or whatever. Also 107-106 sounds like they barely escaped, so I’m not sure it’s just “energy” and not just missing shots turning into makes. OG having a career high is wild though. 53-year drought finally ending soon?? I’m gonna be mad if they choke the next one now.