Spurs snap Knicks' 13-game playoff win streak with Game 3 victory behind Victor Wembanyama's 32 points
Spurs Edge Knicks in Overtime Thriller, Cut Series Deficit to 2-1
The San Antonio Spurs silenced Madison Square Garden on Monday night, stealing Game 3 of the NBA Finals with a 115-111 victory over the New York Knicks. The win snapped New York's impressive 13-game playoff winning streak and gave the Spurs their first road win of the series, though the Knicks still hold a 2-1 advantage heading into Game 4.
Victor Wembanyama delivered a masterful performance, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. The towering center had been haunted by his missed potential game-winner in Game 2, but he responded emphatically, dominating from the opening tip.
The Spurs came out with something to prove. San Antonio established an 11-point lead after the first quarter, with Wembanyama scoring nine points on efficient 4-of-6 shooting. Rookie Stephon Castle complemented him perfectly, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the field for seven early points.
But this Knicks team has proven resilient all postseason. Fueled by a sold-out crowd at "The Mecca," New York mounted a spirited comeback before halftime. OG Anunoby was instrumental, dropping 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers and five free throws. Jalen Brunson added 15 points, while Josh Hart—left deliberately unguarded by the Spurs defense—connected on three-pointers for 13 points. The Knicks closed the half with a seven-point advantage, 64-57.
The momentum shifted once more after intermission. The Spurs tightened their defense and erased the deficit almost immediately, forcing turnovers and converting them into easy buckets. The teams traded baskets through the third quarter, with San Antonio reclaiming a one-point lead heading into the final frame.
The fourth quarter proved decisive. The Knicks quickly found themselves in foul trouble, sending San Antonio to the free-throw line repeatedly. Wembanyama capitalized, and New York's shooting went cold—managing just 2-of-12 from three-point territory in the period.
With 4:50 remaining and the Spurs up eight, Wembanyama delivered the defining moment of the night. As the Knicks swung the ball along the perimeter searching for a three, he rejected Landry Shamet's layup attempt with a thunderous block that sent the crowd into stunned silence.
Castle then delivered the dagger. With 1:53 left and San Antonio leading by four, Wembanyama found Castle alone on the wing with seconds on the shot clock. Despite a contested look, Castle buried a deep three-pointer to push the lead back to seven. Brunson responded with New York's first triple of the quarter to cut it to three, but De'Aaron Fox answered with a 15-foot stepback jumper that seemed to seal it with 12.2 seconds remaining.
Anunoby kept hope alive, draining a three-pointer following a timeout to make it a two-point game with 9.4 seconds left. However, Castle coolly sank both free throws, and the Knicks' final attempt fell short.
Castle finished with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Dylan Harper provided a spark off the bench with 13 points. Every Spurs starter scored in double figures.
For the Knicks, Anunoby finished with 28 points on a remarkable 9-of-12 shooting. However, Shamet struggled tremendously, going 1-of-8 from the field including 1-of-7 from three-point range—a rare cold night for a player who had thrived throughout the playoffs.
The game drew extra attention with President Donald Trump in attendance, seated alongside Knicks owner James Dolan in a suite. The Secret Service, TSA, and NYPD had transformed Madison Square Garden into a fortress throughout the afternoon and evening in anticipation of his arrival.
Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
