The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The game took place on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Victor Wembanyama led the visiting team with 32 points. The victory ended the Knicks’ 13-game playoff run.
Spurs now trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday, also in New York. No team in NBA history has overturned a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs. The triumph kept the title race alive.
Spurs exploit bottle from the start against Knicks defense
The Spurs had difficulty attacking the New York defense in the first two games. They have scored just 100.5 points per 100 possessions in the Finals thus far. In Game 3, the team adjusted the pace and dictated the pace early.
The first basket came on a block play 45. Stephon Castle drove, received blocks from Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie. He passed to De’Aaron Fox, who set up Wembanyama for an easy dunk. Shortly after, alternating blocks again freed up Wembanyama near the basket for two more points.
Spurs repeated the formation 45 minutes later. Castle faked a pass to Fox and found Wembanyama open under the rim. Five minutes into the game, Wembanyama already had nine points with 4 of 4 shooting. Castle had seven points on 3 of 3. The duo distributed assists with fluidity.
- Wembanyama converted four alley-oops in the game, equaling his playoff best.
- The French pivot finished with 32 points on 18 shots.
- Castle contributed 23 points on 14 attempts.
- The duo combined for 55 points with 59% success.
The Spurs’ offense didn’t drop below 23 points in any quarter. They maintained constant pressure in the paint even when the Knicks used lower formations. Wembanyama slipped into a pick-and-roll and dunked over Mikal Bridges on an opportunity. In the fourth quarter, he got past Karl-Anthony Towns from behind for another aerial pass.
Spurs defense thwarts Knicks’ ball movement in decisive possession
The Knicks built a reputation for excellent ball circulation in the Finals. They infiltrate, pass and repeat the movement until they create a free throw. In Game 3, the Spurs interrupted that flow at a critical moment.
With San Antonio leading by eight points in the final minutes, the visitors blocked four shots in a row on the same possession. Wembanyama drove Landry Shamet’s layup into the rim. The five defenders moved in sync, with Wembanyama exchanging markings multiple times. The possession ended without a basket for the home team.
This sequence exemplified the collective effort of the Spurs defense. The team committed just eight turnovers, the fewest in the postseason. Support players like Champagnie and Devin Vassell made six of ten three-point attempts.
Wembanyama dominates near the basket and increases offensive efficiency
The average distance of Wembanyama’s shots fell significantly. He shot 10.6 feet from the basket in Game 3, up from 17.3 feet in Game 1 and 15.2 feet in Game 2. The Spurs’ offensive rating jumped to 123.7, the second-best of the postseason.
The pivot also acted more as a blocker. He recorded 3.5 blocks per 100 possessions in the playoffs, above his regular season average. In total, Wembanyama had three blocks and two steals on the night. He finished with eight rebounds and six assists.
The Spurs got into the foul bonus early in the third and fourth quarters. This led to extra free throws. The team took better care of the ball and avoided the offensive stagnation seen in previous games.
Knicks see Anunoby shine, but concerns arise with centers
OG Anunoby was the most efficient of the Knicks. He scored 28 points with 9 hits in 13 attempts. His baskets came from the collective flow, without a high volume of possession. The winger went over Wembanyama on several plays in the series.
Jalen Brunson led the team with 32 points. Despite the close loss, the Knicks maintained stable rotations for the most part. One statistic caught attention: the Spurs outscored New York by 13 points in the seven minutes that Mitchell Robinson was on the court.
That was Robinson’s lowest time in the postseason. Coach Mike Brown opted for lower formations with Anunoby as a pivot for parts of the match. The results were mixed, with a more open court and quick transitions. The team must evaluate the return to the usual pivot rotation for Game 4.
Tactical adjustments and the role of the bench mark lessons for the series
Spurs tested formation with three point guards. Dylan Harper came into the starting lineup in place of Champagnie. The quintet with Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell and Wembanyama is low, but fast and dynamic. Harper was one of the highlights in the first games. More minutes are expected in this configuration.
On the Knicks side, Jordan Clarkson came off the bench and contributed 10 points, including two three-pointers as the clock expired. He played 13 minutes with a positive balance. José Alvarado also helped score against Wembanyama.
Keldon Johnson, Spurs reserve, had a busy performance. He scored seven points, but finished with the best points difference of the match. The team suffered from injuries and wear and tear, but Johnson played 17 important minutes.
The schedule includes only one day of rest between Game 3 and 4. Then, there will be two days between the following games. This could influence the recovery of Spurs’ pillars, who played a lot of minutes on Monday.
- Wembanyama: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks.
- Castle: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists.
- Anunoby: 28 points on 9-13 shooting.
- Brunson: 32 points for the Knicks.
- Spurs: 8 turnovers, high efficiency in the paint.
- Knicks: 13-game winning streak ended at home.
Game 4 decides whether the Spurs tie the series or the Knicks regain control. New York fans filled Madison Square Garden. The duel continues at a high technical level in the 2026 NBA Finals.
