Villanova Knicks Storm Back From 29-Point Hole; Brunson Drops 36

The Villanova Knicks are one win away from a world championship after storming back from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. New York trailed 81-52 with 9:28 to play in the third quarter; Villanova alumnus Jalen Brunson — the odds-on favorite to win Finals MVP — contributed 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting in the miraculous comeback, sinking three of seven three-point shots and adding five rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Brunson notched nine points and two assists in the decisive fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to one with a three before giving the Knicks their first lead of the game with a jump shot inside the 90-second mark. He got the green light with the Knicks down 106-105 in the waning seconds and, although his three-point attempt missed, it set up teammate OG Anunoby for the put-back game-winner.

Brunson’s Villanova teammates Josh Hart (six points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals) and Mikal Bridges (seven points, two rebounds, two assists) also made modest contributions. After the win, television cameras caught Brunson embracing Jay Wright, the Wildcats’ head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer who led him to a pair of national championships on the Main Line.

The Knicks now hold a commanding 3-1 series lead; the series will head back to San Antonio at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13. Villanova won their third national title at the Alamodome in 2018; now the ‘Nova Knicks’ will have a chance to add to their trophy case.