The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The victory came in Game 3 of the NBA Finals and prevented the Texans from being swept in the series. Victor Wembanyama led the team with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
Stephon Castle contributed 23 points, five rebounds and five assists. The young duo scored more than 20 points each and became the first people aged 22 and under to achieve this feat in a finals game. The result left the series at 2-1 for the Knicks.
Wembanyama and Castle lead Spurs’ attack
Victor Wembanyama equaled his highest score in finals games and joined Tim Duncan as one of the few Spurs players to record 25 points or more in three consecutive playoff games. He mentioned relaxing before the game while drawing at Gramercy Park. Spurs’ number 1 completed the performance with three important blocks.
Stephon Castle, 21, served as an efficient supporting character. The duo combined for 55 points, the highest total of the postseason in a non-overtime game. Coach Mitch Johnson highlighted the return to the team’s collective standard, with strong defense and ball distribution.
- Wembanyama: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks
- Castle: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
- De’Aaron Fox: 12 points, 8 assists
- Six Spurs players with double-digit scoring
Defense and ball movement make a difference at the Garden
The Spurs opened a double-digit lead in the first quarter, repeating what had happened in the previous two games, even with defeats. In total, they dished out 28 assists, with Fox leading the way. The team attacked the box with consistency and showed calm in moments of pressure from the fans.
Madison Square Garden received almost 20 thousand fans and was attended by celebrities. Security measures were heightened due to President Donald Trump’s visit to owner James Dolan’s suite. It took Spurs around 30 minutes to reach the location even with an escort. Despite the hostile environment, the visiting team maintained control for most of the 48 minutes.
Knicks miss first chance to close series at home
The New York Knicks led 2-0 and were looking for their third straight playoff victory at home. Jalen Brunson scored 32 points, but the team was unable to keep up with the Spurs in the fourth quarter. The loss snapped a 13-game playoff winning streak.
The Knicks coach and players pointed to failures in free throws and in containing the bottle. The team now travels to Texas with the series still open. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday.
Return to Popovich standard boosts Spurs’ confidence
Keldon Johnson, best sixth man of the season, summed up the team’s philosophy in the locker room. The group, heir to the style created by Gregg Popovich and maintained by Mitch Johnson, prioritizes the collective. The away win after two home defeats rekindled hopes of a longer run in the series.
Wembanyama spoke about the difficulty of maintaining focus in the playoffs and the need for physical and mental recovery. Spurs avoided losing three games in a row for the first time this season.
History and upcoming challenges in the series
This was only the second time in NBA Finals history that a visiting team won in the first three games of the series. The Spurs have shown they can compete on equal terms when playing their signature basketball. The focus now turns to Game 4 in San Antonio.
Knicks fans expected a victory that would bring the title closer after 53 years. The New York team still leads, but will need to adjust their defense against the Spurs’ young duo.
