Knicks hoping to close out NBA Finals in Game 5 vs. Spurs

The Knicks are aiming to seal their first NBA championship since 1973 by closing out the Finals in Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, with a 3-1 series lead entering San Antonio. The Larry O’Brien Trophy will be on hand, and thousands of New York fans have traveled to Texas hoping to witness the franchise’s first title in half a century. New York is 3-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning each by an average margin of 39.3 points — all on the road. Coach Mike Brown stressed the need to focus on the next possession as the defining factor in any potential closeout. In Game 4, the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit to win 107-106 on OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs have led every game by double figures, but San Antonio has dropped three of those leads. Spurs guard Dylan Harper said that the team cannot let up in the Finals, underscoring the heightened desperation from opponents and fans alike. Saturday’s Game 5 officials are Scott Foster, James Capers and Tyler Ford; if the Spurs win, Game 6 would be Tuesday in New York.