‘The same stupid stuff’s happening in our series’: Golden Knights coach Tortorella on Knicks’ comeback in NBA Finals

Hockey fans have been dining out on a thrilling Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes, as each of the four games so far have featured multi-goal comebacks. If you happen to be a fan of hockey and basketball, however, then you’ve been experiencing a true all-you-can-eat buffet of sports exhileration.

The NBA Finals are happening concurrently to the Stanley Cup Final, with the New York Knicks up 3-1 over the San Antonio Spurs in the series and just one win away from their first championship since 1973. For as zany as some the hockey games have been, including the Hurricanes coming back from a four-goal deficit in Game 3 only to lose in double overtime, Wednesday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals may have been more preposterous than any of them.

The Spurs appeared to be cruising to a blowout victory, as they were leading 76-49 at the half and 90-75 after three quarters. But the Knicks outscored the Spurs 32-16 in the fourth quarter, and won 107-106 thanks to an OG Anunoby tip-in with under two seconds left.

Golden Knights coach John Tortorella spoke to the media on Thursday, and commented on how the Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals have had the same chaotic energy.

“They’ve been watching our games,” Tortorella quipped when asked about Wednesday’s basketball game. “I wanted to go to bed, but when they got it down to 15, you knew something stupid was going to happen. I’m just basically saying the same stupid stuff’s been happening in our series.”

One of the most criticized plays from Wednesday’s basketball game was when Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox had a layup attempt blocked with about 12 seconds left in the game and his team up by one point, leading to a turnover and giving the Knicks the opportunity to score and win the game. Tortorella was asked about how players can make critical mistakes in big moments.

“I forget the basketball player’s name, but he’s probably a very intelligent player. I think the intensity and just the moment that’s going on in the Finals now, they’re human beings and it just overcomes you sometimes to do some stupid things.”