The Spurs' 29-point collapse is the 28-3 of the NBA, but worse

Feedzy​  ​​Read More​     The Spurs’ experience disadvantage is finally creeping up in the worst of ways. They’ve blown double-digit leads in each of the first four games of the NBA Finals. Fourteen points in Game 1. Twelve points in Games 2 and 3.But the lead they blew Wednesday night was by far the worst. And not just of this series. Of any playoff series in NBA history.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spurs allowed the New York Knicks to come back from 29 points down to win on a tip-in layup by OG Anunoby with one second left on the clock. It was a gut-wrenching way for the young Spurs to lose that made me think about a similar collapse in a championship game: the Atlanta Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI (2017).In contrast, though, the Falcons’ loss isn’t nearly as embarrassing when you consider their blown lead came against arguably the greatest coach of all time and the greatest quarterback of all-time who was already a four-time Super Bowl champion. If there was any team capable of pulling that off, it was the Patriots.The Spurs blew their lead (and a 99.6 win probability) against a team in a 53-year title drought who people believed couldn’t win a championship because their best player was too small. That theory is being blown out the water.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBesides, 28-3 is only the fourth biggest blown lead in NFL playoff history.This obviously won’t make Falcons fans feel any better about 2017, as they remain title-less to this day. Nor is it supposed to. It might, however, make Spurs fans feel even worse about what took place Wednesday, because this is a series they could easily be leading, or tied at the very least. If they don’t come back to win it, their Game 4 meltdown will be remembered as arguably the worst in sports.Credit the Knicks for fighting to the end. Captain Clutch Jalen Brunson did the heavy lifting with 36 points. OG Anunoby chipped in 33 and saved Josh Hart with his game-winner. Karl-Anthony Towns made a clutch defensive play to seal the win. They never gave up.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut the inexperience everyone was worried about with the Spurs going into the playoffs bit them at the wrong time. De’Aaron Fox had a complete meltdown in the fourth quarter that culminated in his gaffe at the very end. And even though he’s considered the vet of this squad, he’s still just a 28-year-old in the midst of his first deep playoff run.Mitch Johnson didn’t call a single timeout during New York’s biggest stretch. But again, he’s just a 39-year-old in his second year as coach. The rest of the Spurs also didn’t have answers, because they’re a bunch of pups in this league. That’s how they ended up on the wrong end of a 29-point comeback. That number will go down as the NBA’s version of 28-3.Jan 26, 2025; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts before the AFC Championship game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stad