The San Antonio Spurs secured a vital 115-111 road victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, staving off a 3-0 series hole that no team has ever overcome in league history.
Victor Wembanyama starred for the Spurs with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks. The French phenom said: 'At home, you feel like you're playing 5-on-6. Here, it felt like we were being overwhelmed. That shows the character of each team.'
Stephon Castle added 23 points, including 18 in the first half and five crucial points in the final quarter. He admitted: 'We haven't done much yet. We're down 1-2, and we'll focus on the next 48 minutes.'
Despite the loss, the Knicks still lead the series 2-1. Jalen Brunson scored 32 points for the home side but could not extend their 13-game playoff winning streak – the second longest in NBA history.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said: 'I told you guys, a seven-game series exists for a reason. They are a good team, well-coached, with legendary players. It's not going to be easy.'
The Spurs rebounded after narrow losses in the first two games (105-95 and 105-104). They took a 79-76 lead on a Wembanyama three-pointer early in the third quarter. In the fourth, both teams combined to shoot just 13-of-48 (27.1%), but the Spurs held on with accurate free-throw shooting.
Notably, the Knicks attempted only eight free throws in the second half compared to 24 for the Spurs — a disparity that Knicks coach Mike Brown highlighted as surprising in his post-game press conference.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday in New York. This marks only the second time in NBA history that the first three games of the Finals were all won by the road team. The previous instance came in 1993, when the Chicago Bulls won two games in Phoenix before falling in Game 3.
