Victor Wembanyama (left) scored 32 points in Game 3 while Stephon Castle had 23.
Victor Wembanyama (left) scored 32 points in Game 3 while Stephon Castle had 23.Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
With every excuse to succumb to the raucous, once-in-a-century atmosphere at Madison Square Garden in the Knicks’ first home NBA Finals game since the debut of The Sopranos, the Spurs vastly improved on the late-game execution that cost them the first two games in San Antonio.
New York was returning home after two late-game rallies earned them a decisive advantage in this series and hoped to erase any suspense with a third win, this time in front of a crowd that included President Trump, former Yankees star Derek Jeter, and tennis legend John McEnroe.
The Knicks are seeking their first championship in 53 years – the Celtics have won seven titles in that span – and the title-hungry town was eagerly anticipating the home team would capitalize on its environment and overwhelm the younger Spurs.
That was not the case in Monday’s Game 3. The Spurs punched first, then rallied from a 7-point halftime deficit and held on for a 115-111 victory, now giving this evenly matched series some intrigue because of the poise of Stephon Castle, clutch shooting of De’Aaron Fox, and overall dominance of 7-foot-4 center Victor Wembanyama.
The issue with the Spurs during the two home losses weren’t a matter of talent, but execution down the stretch. Late in the excruciating Game 2 loss, Wembanyama’s lead pass caromed off the back of the unaware Castle, and Jalen Brunson recovered the ball and hit the winning free throw.
San Antonio’s final play was a contested 20-footer by Wembanyama at the buzzer, not exactly a high percentage shot from the extraordinary center and there was criticism of not only that final shot but Wembanyama’s lack of aggression at the rim.
He made adjustments Monday, as eight of his 11 field goals were at the rim. He cut down on his 3-point attempts, which is an advantage to opposing defenses who invite him to shoot long-range jumpers. While he is an above-average 3-point shooter, the Spurs would rather not have him settle for a heavy diet of threes.
Because of his length at the rim, he makes scoring in the paint much easier. In the past few days, he was being scrutinized for his Game 2 mishap and his lack of big-game experience, but Wembanyama responded with a stellar performance of 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocked shots. The Spurs, similar to the first two games, jumped out to an early lead against a Knicks team that had won 13 consecutive playoff games. The difference Monday was that the Spurs were able to maintain their lead throughout the evening. The Knicks, behind the masterful Brunson, couldn’t rally because of San Antonio’s aggressive defense.
The Spurs won despite missing 15 of 21 fourth-quarter shots, but they maintained their lead because of 10 free throws in that period. New York coach Mike Brown made the first open criticism of the officiating by complaining about San Antonio’s 24 second-half free throws, but that was a byproduct of aggression, forcing the Knicks into fouls and capitalizing on free throws in the bonus.
The Spurs are making their first playoff appearance in six years and many of their young core have never played this deep into any season. Only former Celtic Luke Kornet and ex-Golden State Warrior Harrison Barnes have NBA Finals experience and the club was plagued by a lack of poise in the late stages of Games 1 and 2.
But it doesn’t lack resiliency. Behind Wembanyama, the Spurs responded from a 3 games to 2 deficit to dethrone the defending champion Thunder in the Western Conference and falling behind two games in this series wasn’t a death sentence, despite all five New York City boroughs rooting against them Monday.
New York has meshed into a relentless team over the past year, learning from its 2025 conference final loss to the underdog Pacers. No lead over the Knicks is enough and they continue to chip away at leads because their top players are all playing their best right now.
But on Monday, they reverted to the habit of being too Brunson-centric offensively. Karl-Anthony Towns, who was the early favorite for Finals MVP through two games, looked lethargic and passive in Game 3. The trio of Towns, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges combined for three field goals in the second half. The Knicks hadn’t lost in six weeks, but they melted on the game’s biggest stage in front of a once-in-a-lifetime crowd.
They also injected life back into the Spurs and this series by playing as if they expected San Antonio to fold under the must-win pressure. But Game 3 was an example of how close these two teams really are. No team has been able to take full control of any of the three games.
Brunson has struggled from the field. Wembanyama has looked human in stretches. The encouraging sign for the Spurs is their young stars such as Castle, the former UConn standout, and rookie Dylan Harper, appear undaunted by the moment.
The Spurs have proven more than capable of winning difficult playoff road games, making Game 4 fascinating because another win makes this an entirely new series. The Knicks heard for the past three days about their chances of potentially sweeping this series and sending the city into a frenzy with its first championship in 53 years. But now the Finals are going back to San Antonio and the Knicks are now in an old-fashioned New York street fight.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.