The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, ending New York’s historic 13-game playoff winning streak and trimming the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with a dominant stat line of 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Stephon Castle added 23 points and De'Aaron Fox made key contributions down the stretch.
San Antonio started strong, making nine of its first 11 shots and taking a 33-22 lead after the first quarter. The Knicks responded with a 21-11 second-quarter run to take a 64-57 halftime lead, but the Spurs outscored New York 32-24 in the third to regain control. Castle hit a three-pointer with 1:53 remaining in the third to put San Antonio ahead 111-104 and his two free throws with 6.8 seconds left iced the game.
Wembanyama’s performance was a turning point in the series. The rookie’s ability to score, rebound, and facilitate made it difficult for the Knicks to adjust. “At home, it really feels like playing six against five. Here, it feels like five against six,” he said. “It really shows what teams are made of.”
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points, while OG Anunoby chipped in 28. Karl-Anthony Towns struggled with just 11 points. Mikal Bridges was limited by foul trouble, and New York’s inability to match San Antonio on the boards and at the free-throw line proved costly. The Knicks attempted 24 free throws to the Spurs’ 8 in the second half.
Knicks coach Mike Brown acknowledged the challenge ahead. “They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It’s not going to be easy,” he said. Brown also pointed to the free throw disparity as a key issue.
The Spurs now have a chance to even the series as they look to become the first team in NBA history to win the Finals after losing the first two games at home. Game 4 is set for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio.
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