Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points as the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 in Game 3, ending New York’s 13-game playoff win streak.
Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points and the San Antonio Spurs held off the New York Knicks, 115-111, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, ending New York’s 13-game playoff winning streak.
The win pulled San Antonio back into the series after the Knicks opened a 2-0 lead. New York still leads the Finals 2-1, but the Spurs changed the tone of the matchup with late defense, timely shot-making and a fourth quarter in which the Knicks went 2-for-12 from 3-point range.
Wembanyama added eight rebounds and six assists, bouncing back after missing a potential winner in Game 2. He had help late from Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, who each hit key baskets as San Antonio protected a narrow fourth-quarter lead.
The Spurs started fast, building an 11-point lead after the first quarter behind Wembanyama and Castle. New York responded before halftime, riding a surge from OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart to take a 64-57 lead into the break.
San Antonio quickly erased that deficit in the third quarter, forcing turnovers and turning them into points. The teams traded control from there, with the Spurs carrying a one-point edge into the fourth.
The closing stretch belonged to San Antonio. Wembanyama’s free throws pushed the lead to eight with 4:50 left, and the Spurs followed with several defensive stops, including Wembanyama blocking Landry Shamet near the rim after New York swung the ball around the perimeter.
Castle delivered one of the game’s biggest shots with 1:53 remaining, burying a deep wing 3 late in the shot clock to stretch a four-point lead to seven. Brunson answered with New York’s first 3-pointer of the quarter, but Fox responded with a 15-foot stepback jumper with 12.2 seconds left.
Anunoby, who finished with 28 points on 9-of-12 shooting, hit a 3 after a timeout to bring the Knicks within two. Castle then made both free throws to close out the win. Castle finished with 23 points, five rebounds and five assists, and every Spurs starter scored in double figures. Dylan Harper added 13 points off the bench.
For New York, Shamet struggled from the field, shooting 1-for-8 overall and 1-for-7 from 3-point range.
President Donald Trump attended the game and sat in a suite with Knicks owner James Dolan. His presence brought heightened security around Madison Square Garden before and during the game.
Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, with tipoff set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
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