The New York Knicks lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but Skip Bayless is not backing away from his prediction. After Monday night's 115-111 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs, Bayless said he still expects New York to win the series.
The outlook around the Finals changed after the loss. New York had a chance to take a 3-0 lead but instead saw San Antonio cut the series deficit to 2-1 and put itself back in contention.
With Game 4 approaching, the focus is now on how the Knicks respond. Bayless remains confident that New York will recover and regain control of the series.
"I still like Knicks in 6 and I do like the Knicks to shake off the jitters and rise above the greatest crowd in New York history to win Game Four," he shared on X.
I still like Knicks in 6 and I do like the Knicks to shake off the jitters and rise above the greatest crowd in New York history to win Game Four pic.twitter.com/KXLpUIXxKl
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 9, 2026
His confidence comes from what the Knicks accomplished earlier in the series. They won the first two games in San Antonio and looked like the stronger team for long stretches.
The Spurs, though, showed why they reached the Finals. Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points, Stephon Castle added 23, and San Antonio was sharper in key moments than it had been in the opening two games.
That win changed the situation for New York. Instead of moving within one game of a championship, the Knicks now need to make sure the Spurs do not build on their breakthrough performance.
Bayless also pointed to the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden. The arena has been one of the biggest storylines of New York's playoff run, and another packed crowd is expected for Game 4.
For New York, Game 4 could shape the rest of the series. A win would leave the franchise one victory away from its first NBA title since 1973 and keep Bayless' prediction on track.
If the Spurs win again, the series will be tied at 2-2. That would erase New York's early advantage and make the Finals a best-of-three battle.
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