Data shows just how close these NBA Finals games have been

If you have been sweating watching the New York Knicks the last few games, it is probably not due to the heat wave in New York alone. These games have been unusually close. The series between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs — which the Knicks lead 3-1 after the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history on Wednesday — has been the closest finals matchup since 2016, with the average margin of victory coming in at only 4.0 points through the series’ first four games. Since 2016, no other finals series has had an average margin of victory of less than 7.5 points. Every tilt between the Spurs and Knicks has come down to the wire. All four games meet the NBA’s definition of a clutch game, which means the score has been within 5 points with five minutes or fewer left in the fourth quarter. NBC News analyzed Sports Reference NBA Finals scores data and calculated the average margin of victory across finals series. After New York won the opening game by 10 points — pulling away in the final two minutes — the last three games have been about as close as they can get. The Knicks’ last two wins have each come by only a point, including their epic 29-point comeback in Game 4. San Antonio’s lone victory in the series came by 4 points. Through the first 192 minutes of action, the teams are separated by only 8 points total, as New York leads in aggregate score 428-420. Though the Knicks are only one win away from their first championship since 1973, the Spurs could easily be the team up 3-1 had a couple shots gone their way. All that means is an exciting finish to the finals should be in store as the series shifts to San Antonio for Game 5.