Spurs held double-digit leads in every Finals game, so how did they lose 4-1?

Spurs held double-digit leads in every Finals game, so how did they lose 4-1? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NBA Finals proved that leading a basketball game is not the same as winning it. The San Antonio Spurs controlled the clock against the New York Knicks but lost the series 4-1.

San Antonio held double-digit leads in all five games. They even built a massive 29-point lead in Game 4. Yet, New York won the championship because they dominated the final four minutes of each match.

The data reveals a major gap in late-game execution. San Antonio relied on fast play to build leads. However, games slow down in the fourth quarter. The Knicks used a tough defense that allowed only 92 points per 100 possessions in tight moments.

Under this extreme pressure, the young Spurs stopped passing. They turned the ball over and took bad shots. Aside from Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper, the remaining Spurs shot just 26% during late-game situations.

Meanwhile, New York excelled at half-court execution. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in the Game 5 closer, including 13 straight fourth-quarter points. The veteran Knicks did not panic when trailing. They forced turnovers and quickly scored easy points.

They also won the rebounding battle to gain extra possessions. New York shot 37.8% from three-point range, keeping their spacing perfect when it mattered most.

Control is an illusion if a team collapses under pressure. San Antonio won the first three quarters of almost every game, but New York won the final minutes. The total point difference in the series was only two points per game.

This shows that the 4-1 score was not a blowout, but a lesson in crunch-time efficiency. Experience wins championships, while talent merely builds early leads.