Everyone at Madison Square Garden was trying to figure out what just happened in the Knicks-Spurs Game 4 of the NBA Finals — but Charles Barkley and the “Inside the NBA” crew were just angry.
“We saw the dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization,” Barkley said on the ESPN postgame show after the Spurs blew a 29-point lead and let the Knicks win 107-106.
“They had a [29]-point lead and took eight straight 3s. Like, that was some of the most mismanaged and stupid basketball. If you blow a [29]-point lead, the other team has to help you.”
The Spurs scored 30 points in the second half in an embarrassing offensive performance, hoisting brick after brick from beyond the arc after being unable to miss in the first half.
“The San Antonio Spurs helped the New York Knicks win this game by doing some of the most stupid ass stuff I’ve ever seen on a basketball court,” Barkley concluded.
Barkley was also irate with Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox for driving for a layup that was blocked by Knicks guard OG Anunoby.
“De’Andre Fox, whatever his name is. De’Aaron Fox,” Barkley said. “That was a dumbass play. There was no reason for him to shoot that ball.”
Fox retrieved a Brunson missed shot and a deflection that looked to be an easy layup to go up 109-106.
Fox could have — and probably should have — pulled back and waited to get fouled by the Knicks, but Anunoby came flying in with a LeBron James-style block to give the Knicks another chance at glory on the offensive side.
“They had a 29-point lead, and they shot eight 3s in a row and never came close to losing any time on the clock, and you’re like ‘This game ain’t over yet,’” Barkley said.
“The Knicks got a Christmas gift in June tonight.”
Shaquille O’Neal agreed with Barkley’s sentiment, saying that the Spurs “got comfortable” in the second half.
The Knicks play for an NBA Finals title in Game 5 on Saturday in San Antonio.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
