By all accounts, the San Antonio Spurs were on cruise control in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. 

The Spurs had built a 29-point lead over the New York Knicks that historically had never been overcome. A tied series heading back to San Antonio would not only have given back homecourt advantage back to the Spurs, but they would also have the momentum with the way they blew out the Knicks. 

Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a San Antonio masterclass turned into a disaster of epic proportions. 

Call it a tragedy. Think of it as a comedy of errors. Regardless of how you see it, this was a game that the Spurs let slip from them. The miscues and the blown opportunities all piled up and ended up costing them a tied series heading back home. 

From the ill-advised shots to late-game blunders, there were a ton of opportunities that would have given San Antonio the Game 4 victory even with a squandered lead. But in reality, this has been a concerning trend for the Spurs, who have been defined by their questionable decisions in this series. 

A 3-1 series deficit is not necessarily a death sentence, but given how the Spurs’s late-game struggles, it could very well be if they don’t make any adjustments. Leads may not matter if they can disappear in a matter of minutes. Their backs are already against the wall, and they might as well shake things up with every contest going forward being an elimination game. 

Dylan Harper’s minutes (or lack thereof) have been subject to heated debates and it would be worth giving him the starting nod over Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, who both have had their fair share of mishaps. This isn’t to say Harper has been perfect, but he’s pretty much a seasoned veteran trapped in a 20-year old body. 

Starting Harper would likely move Fox to a bench role, which is not necessarily a demotion in this case. Fox has yet to truly find his offensive rhythm in this series and entering at a different time and with fresh legs could help him take advantage of matchups. A lineup change at this point could be viewed as a risk, but we’ve seen how the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and the 2015 Golden State Warriors tweaked their lineups on the way to a championship. San Antonio needs to be this desperate, especially with a title on the line. 

Nevermind that this could likely be the first of many NBA Finals trips for the San Antonio Spurs; a sense of urgency has been missing within this squad, to the point that it affects their play late in the game. It may be tempting to point out one pivotal moment or two, but in reality, the Spurs are where they are right now because of the buildup of all the little bad habits. 

There’s still time to build some good habits, because NBA championships are not won with just one game, but in the good habits that become second nature.