Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs started off poorly for the New York Knicks. On Wednesday night, just 62 seconds into the game, they had to bench Karl-Anthony Towns after he picked up two questionable fouls. This set the tone, allowing the Spurs to surge ahead, ending the second quarter with a 76-49 advantage.
Towns was called for a foul while defending De’Aaron Fox during a drive. Then, not long after, he was penalized again when the referees reviewed his drive to the basket and decided he hooked Victor Wembanyama on his way up.
The crowd at Madison Square Garden was not just upset about Towns’ fouls. Spurs center Luke Kornet clearly missed a goaltend, and a failed out-of-bounds call further tilted the advantage toward San Antonio. Knicks fans were also frustrated that Mitchell Robinson was penalized for hitting Wembanyama in the head during Game 3 after a previous altercation with Jalen Brunson.
The refereeing wasn’t the sole reason for the Knicks’ lackluster start. In the first quarter, the Spurs shot 65 percent, while the Knicks hovered around 29 percent. Additionally, San Antonio didn’t turn the ball over, unlike New York, which had four turnovers. The Spurs appeared fluid in their play, while the Knicks’ offense felt stuck.
After a tight Game 3, where the Spurs made ten more free throws, Mike Brown raised concerns about the need for more consistent officiating. Following Game 4, this issue seemed likely to come up again. Many will want to evaluate Towns’ initial foul, for instance.
I’m not a fan of that early call, especially considering the physicality the referees allowed in the earlier games.
The second foul on Towns seemed more warranted to me. Initially ruled against Wembanyama, the decision was reversed after the Spurs objected; it was clear that Towns hooked Wembanyama’s arm as he drove toward the basket before the Spurs player executed a clean block.
Some sharp observers feel differently about that foul call against Towns, but I still think he definitely hooked him, which obstructed Wembanyama’s movement.
Frankly, I’m puzzled by how the referee overlooked the clear goaltending on Wembanyama.
I also think that Kornet’s actions should have drawn a goaltending call.
In another moment, Wembanyama seemed to instigate a flagrant foul on Robinson. After making a finesse layup, Wembanyama turned and began taunting Robinson. When he got too close, Robinson responded with a forearm across Wembanyama’s neck.
The referee reviewed that play and deemed it a flagrant foul against Robinson, while Wembanyama appeared to taunt him, suggesting he was in his head.
The Knicks’ trouble in the first half didn’t stem solely from the referee’s decisions. Their inability to capitalize while San Antonio delivered a strong offensive performance was evident. However, that crucial early foul on Towns shifted the game, and the uneven officiating certainly placed players on both sides in tough spots.
Up until Game 4, the referees had been lenient on physical play. But in this game, the focus on calling fouls disrupted the Knicks’ flow, leading to a notably tense atmosphere in Madison Square Garden.
Previously, the Knicks had won the first two games in San Antonio. Following the Spurs’ victory in Game 3 and their dominant first half in Game 4, it seemed like a rout was possible—but that’s not the case anymore.
It truly feels like the 2026 Finals are just ramping up. This series is brimming with intensity.
