SouthernWorldwide.com – The San Antonio Spurs have ended the New York Knicks’ impressive 13-game playoff win streak by securing a crucial Game 3 victory with a score of 115-111 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Despite the loss, the Knicks maintain a 2-1 lead in the series. However, the Spurs’ triumph was fueled by exceptional defense, timely offensive plays, and a critical defensive performance in the fourth quarter where they limited the Knicks to a mere 2-of-12 shooting from three-point range.
Victor Wembanyama was the standout performer for the Spurs, tallying 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. This performance came after a missed opportunity to win Game 2 in the closing moments.
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Complementing Wembanyama’s efforts, his teammates De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle delivered clutch baskets that were instrumental in securing the win.
From the outset, the Spurs displayed a clear determination to establish their presence on the road. This assertive approach was expected given the series’ context. San Antonio established an 11-point lead by the end of the first quarter, with Wembanyama contributing nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, while Castle was a perfect 3-of-3 for seven points.
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However, as has been demonstrated throughout the playoffs, the Knicks possess a remarkable ability to mount comebacks, regardless of the initial deficit. This resilience was once again on display before the end of the first half.
New York began to find their rhythm, leveraging the energy of the sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd. They managed to erase the deficit and take a seven-point lead into halftime, with OG Anunoby leading the charge with 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including two three-pointers and five successful free throws.
Jalen Brunson also contributed significantly with 15 points, while Josh Hart, intentionally left open by the Spurs’ defense, hit crucial three-pointers to add 13 points.
The Knicks carried strong momentum into the second half, but the Spurs mirrored their earlier performance. They forced turnovers and capitalized on these opportunities, quickly nullifying their seven-point deficit.
The teams exchanged baskets, with San Antonio entering the fourth quarter with a one-point lead, setting the stage for a highly anticipated conclusion at “The Mecca.”
This time, however, the Spurs managed to hold onto their fourth-quarter lead. The Knicks quickly found themselves in foul trouble, allowing San Antonio to reach the bonus early in the period. Wembanyama capitalized on these opportunities, while the Knicks experienced a scoring drought at the start of the quarter.
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San Antonio extended their lead to eight points with 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter after Wembanyama made two more free throws. Key defensive plays by the Spurs were pivotal. A prime example was when the Knicks attempted to move the ball for a three-point shot, but the Spurs’ defense consistently closed out. The sequence concluded with Wembanyama blocking Landry Shamet’s layup attempt.
The first significant clutch basket for the Spurs came from Castle with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter. San Antonio held a slim four-point lead, and Wembanyama passed the ball to Castle with mere seconds on the shot clock. Despite tight defense from the Knicks, Castle sank a deep three-pointer from the wing, extending the lead to seven at a critical moment when the Knicks were gaining momentum.
Following Brunson’s made three-pointer, the Knicks’ first of the quarter, which cut the deficit to three, Fox responded with a 15-foot step-back jumper with 12.2 seconds remaining, seemingly sealing the victory.
Anunoby, who finished with 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting, kept the Knicks’ hopes alive with a three-pointer of his own after a timeout, reducing the deficit to two with 9.4 seconds left. However, Castle calmly made both free throws in a crucial situation, effectively closing out the game for New York.
Castle concluded the game with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, along with five rebounds and five assists. Notably, every Spurs starter scored in double digits. Dylan Harper, who provided significant contributions off the bench for San Antonio, also added 13 points on 18 field goal attempts.
For the Knicks, Landry Shamet’s shooting performance stood out, as he finished 1-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-7 from three-point range, an area where he had excelled throughout the playoffs.
The Spurs’ victory was witnessed by President Donald Trump, who was seated in a suite alongside Knicks owner James Dolan. The president’s presence necessitated heightened security measures around the arena throughout the day and into the evening.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals is scheduled to tip off from Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET.
