The San Antonio Spurs have their backs against the wall in the NBA Finals after dropping a pair of heartbreakers at home in Games 1 and 2. Now, they head on the road to Madison Square Garden needing a pair of wins to get back level in the series before heading back to San Antonio for Game 5.
Madison Square Garden is one of the loudest arenas in all of basketball, and it will be rocking for Game 3 on Monday night with the Knicks just two wins from a title. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is still getting his first taste of the NBA Finals, but he has fond memories of MSG. When asked on Sunday, the French superstar said he enjoyed playing at the world's most famous arena.
However, it will be an entirely different atmosphere in Games 3 and 4. Despite that, he isn't concerned about the impact that the crowd and the energy in the building will have on him and his team.
Victor Wembanyama is asked if the intensity at MSG could have an impact on him and the Spurs:
"Not really. It could, but isolating myself is something I've practiced over the years. I'm good at it. Not a problem." pic.twitter.com/j0JNQJGUPe
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 7, 2026
“Not really,” Wembanyama said. “It could, but isolating myself is something I've practiced over the years. I'm good at it. Not a problem. This is similar to something like the Olympics.”
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Point guard De'Aaron Fox, who has a little bit more experience in the playoffs, also knows that it's going to be a tough environment in the next few games. He spoke on Sunday about what the Spurs need to do to get on the board.
"Try to take the crowd out of it as quickly as possible. Easier said that done…you know it's going to be loud"
De'Aaron Fox on the MSG crowd for the NBA Finals: pic.twitter.com/XtbD9c7mtE
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 7, 2026
“Try to take the crowd out of it as quickly as possible,” Fox said. “Even in our Game 7 (against the Oklahoma City Thunder), we never really let the crowd get into the game. Easier said than done, but just try to negate some of their runs. You know you're gonna come in here, it's going to be loud. Don't wanna use the word hostile, but it's gonna be hostile. So you just try to not let the crowd get on their toes too much.”
San Antonio has had two days to get ready for the crowd and the Knicks as it attempts to claw back into this series.
The San Antonio Spurs have their backs against the wall in the NBA Finals after dropping a pair of heartbreakers at home in Games 1 and 2. Now, they head on the road to Madison Square Garden needing a pair of wins to get back level in the series before heading back to San Antonio for Game 5.