Game 7 Aftermath: Spurs’ Victory and Knicks’ Resilience

As soon as the final buzzer rang in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Victor Wembanyama was overcome with emotion, shedding tears that spoke volumes to Josh Hart.

Wembanyama had just guided the Spurs to a stunning victory over the reigning champion Thunder, prompting a celebratory frenzy among the young San Antonio team—almost as if they had clinched the NBA title itself.

In that moment, Hart realized that the Spurs might have erred before facing off against the Knicks in their final match.

“You can see that reaction—it’s clear they believe they can win. They think it’s done,” Hart commented during a discussion on “The Roommates Show” alongside teammate Jalen Brunson. “Everyone was buzzing about beating OKC, as if that really was the pinnacle for them.”

Hart continued, “I glanced at Brunson and thought, ‘Look at them; they really think this is over.’” But any Knicks fan could tell you—it was far from over.

The seasoned underdog Knicks went on to defeat the Spurs decisively in five games, mounting impressive comebacks in every one of their four victories, often overcoming double-digit deficits.

Perhaps the Knicks’ experience played a crucial role here, particularly evident in Game 4, where they made a record comeback of 29 points.

As Hart noted, the Knicks, who had advanced to the Finals after defeating the Cavaliers for the first time in 27 years, approached the situation with a mindset distinctly different from that of the Spurs.

“When we beat Cleveland, it was tough to celebrate—we were just thinking, ‘We still need four more wins.’ Yes, winning the Eastern Conference is a huge deal, but for us, it was just part of the journey, not the destination,” Hart said. “That was clear from our response after Game 4.”

Ultimately, the Knicks maintained their business-like demeanor throughout the series, staying grounded as they pushed closer to the long-sought championship title.

They finally unleashed their emotions when they secured the championship last Saturday night in San Antonio.

Hart’s celebrations carried over into the parade that followed, where he reveled with fans, even sharing some wild tweets about his wife during the festivities.