{"id":756627,"date":"2026-06-09T12:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/756627\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T12:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T12:57:32","slug":"starting-5-spurs-stand-tall-at-msg-win-game-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/756627\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: Spurs stand tall at MSG, win Game 3"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle combine for 55 points as the Spurs take Game 3 to end the Knicks 13-game playoff winning streak.<\/p>\n

A Knicks 3-0 lead? Denied.<\/p>\n

With San Antonio\u2019s back against the wall, Wemby answered with a Finals performance for the ages, cutting New York\u2019s series lead to 2-1.<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

Spurs Strike Back: Wemby & Castle lift San Antonio with historic Game 3s at MSG<\/p>\n

Turning Point: Inside the Spurs\u2019 2nd-half scoring surge and defensive closeout<\/p>\n

Fox Delivers: Shaun Powell on how De\u2019Aaron Fox\u2019s clutch shot could impact more than Game 3<\/p>\n

Knicks Reset: After 46 days without a loss, New York leans on its \u201c0-0\u201d mindset to bounce back<\/p>\n

On The Ground: All the sights, sounds and celebs from the Finals\u2019 return to New York<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

This afternoon, the Spurs and Knicks will meet with the media \u2013 with live coverage on the NBA App and NBA TV at 12:30 ET \u2013 as they prepare for Wednesday\u2019s critical Game 4 (8:30 ET, ABC<\/a>), with New York holding a 2-1 series lead.<\/p>\n

Forever Finals: Thirty-nine years ago today, Magic Johnson buried his iconic junior sky hook<\/a> with seven seconds left, lifting the Lakers past the Celtics, 107-106, in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals. Los Angeles went on to capture the title in six games.<\/p>\n

1. WEMBY, CASTLE FUEL SPURS TO CLUTCH GAME 3 ANSWER<\/p>\n

\"Stephon<\/p>\n

Facing a potential 3-0 hole \u2013 a deficit no team has ever overcome in the Finals \u2013 the Spurs walked into Madison Square Garden with 19,800-plus fans ready to burst, on hand for New York\u2019s first NBA Finals game in 27 years.<\/p>\n

Instead, two young San Antonio stars stole the show \u2013 and made history doing it<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Spurs 115, Knicks 111: In a near-must-win spot, Victor Wembanyama turned in a two-way gem<\/a> (32 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk), while Stephon Castle (23 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) delivered early and late, lifting San Antonio past Jalen Brunson (32 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) and New York.<\/p>\n

The victory snapped the Knicks\u2019 13-game Playoff win streak \u2013 the 2nd-longest in a single postseason \u2013 while cutting the Spurs\u2019 series deficit to 2-1. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Stephon<\/p>\n

After losing Game 2 following a costly late turnover and a missed potential go-ahead shot at the buzzer, Wembanyama vowed he\u2019d use it as fuel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Two nights later, he burned brighter than ever \u2013 setting the tone early before joining legends late. | Steve Aschburner\u2019s 4 Takeaways<\/a><\/p>\n

Immediate Aggression: After scoring 7 points on 4 shots in the 1st half of Game 2, Wemby had 9 points on 4-of-4 shooting just five minutes in Game 3 to give San Antonio a 19-9 lead
\nTimely Answer: New York stormed back with a 42-point 2nd quarter to take the lead into the break. But Wemby responded with a monster 2nd half (17 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk)
\nClutch Close: That included 10 of the Spurs\u2019 23 points in the 4th and one massive swat<\/a> on the other end, helping hold New York to just 20 points to close out the win<\/p>\n

Rare Air: At 22 years and 55 days old, Wemby became just the third player 22 or younger to record 30+ pts, 5+ reb and 5+ ast in an NBA Finals game.<\/p>\n

His Company? Magic Johnson (20y, 276d) and Kobe Bryant (22y, 289d)
\n\u201cIt\u2019s the way that everybody would think a great player would react,\u201d said De\u2019Aaron Fox (12 pts) of Wemby\u2019s Game 3 response
\n\u201cThere was definitely no inkling that I thought he wouldn\u2019t come out here and respond the way that he did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

But this wasn\u2019t just an all-time stat line from Wemby \u2013 it was the answer San Antonio needed.<\/p>\n

An answer Wembanyama didn\u2019t deliver alone.<\/p>\n

Enter Castle.<\/p>\n

The Spark: The second-year guard set the tone alongside Wemby, scoring 7 points in the opening five minutes and 18 in the 1st half
\nThe Close: Castle didn\u2019t score again until the 4th quarter \u2013 but he delivered five of the Spurs\u2019 biggest points of the night
\nHeartbreaker: Pushing to make a late run, a Brunson bucket got New York within four (108-104) with 2:22 left. MSG was on its feet as San Antonio\u2019s shot clock ticked down. No team had hit a 3 all quarter \u2013 until Castle pulled from 26 feet<\/a>
\nHe Drained It: The Garden fell silent as San Antonio\u2019s lead grew to 111-104 with 1:53 left<\/p>\n

\"Stephon<\/p>\n

Dagger: After a huge shot from Fox \u2b06\ufe0f, the Knicks had one more chance after an OG Anunoby 3 cut the deficit to two with nine ticks left
\nCastle answered again, calmly sinking two free throws to push the lead back to four and seal the win
\n\u201cHe might be the most mature player on our team, and he\u2019s nowhere near the oldest,\u201d said Wemby of Castle (21). \u201cHe\u2019s shown over and over again that he\u2019s capable and that we are right to put our trust in him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Young History: Neither Wembanyama (32 pts) nor Castle (23 pts) were alive the last time Madison Square Garden hosted an NBA Finals game in 1999.<\/p>\n

But together, they added a new chapter in the arena\u2019s rich history, becoming the first duo aged 22 or younger to each score 20+ pts in a Finals game.<\/p>\n

Now, the Spurs are one win away from turning a potential 3-0 deficit into a best-of-three series. And after three clutch finishes, they\u2019re expecting more battles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe job is absolutely not done,\u201d said Wemby. \u201cThe hardest is still to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. SPURS RESPOND WITH 3RD-QUARTER SURGE, LOCK-DOWN 4TH<\/p>\n

\"Julian<\/p>\n

Up one with just over 2 minutes to go in Game 1.<\/p>\n

Up two with under a minute to play in Game 2.<\/p>\n

Twice, San Antonio\u2019s 2-0 series deficit was mere minutes away from looking very different, leaving the Spurs with a very clear focal point for Game 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur lessons are learned, and I know we\u2019re not going to make the mistakes of the past again,\u201d Victor Wembanyama said Sunday.<\/p>\n

But when the Knicks erased a double-digit 1st-quarter deficit for the third straight game in this series Monday, the Spurs had to put those learned lessons into action.<\/p>\n

They did so with a two-pronged closeout: an offensive surge in the 3rd quarter and a defensive lockdown in the 4th.<\/p>\n

Efficient Fix: Down 7 entering the 2nd half, San Antonio scored 15 points in its first eight possessions to re-tie the game at 76-76, just over six minutes in
\n\u201cWe came out and we hit first. It kind of felt like a new game for us,\u201d De\u2019Aaron Fox said of the 3rd-quarter start
\nOffensive Outpouring: Seven of the eight Spurs who played in the 3rd scored, with a scoreless Stephon Castle still netting a +6 plus\/minus for the frame
\nSan Antonio\u2019s 35 3rd-quarter points marked the 2nd-highest scoring quarter of the series, immediately following up New York\u2019s Finals-high 42-point 2nd
\nNBA.com\u2019s John Schuhmann has more on Game 3\u2019s turning point<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Devin<\/p>\n

After wrestling control back in the 3rd for a 1-point lead entering the 4th, San Antonio buckled down to hold the Knicks to 20 points in the pivotal final frame.<\/p>\n

Silent Start: The Spurs held the Knicks scoreless for first 3:30 of the 4th, building their lead to 7
\nShooting Shutdown: San Antonio cut off New York\u2019s long-range game, holding the Knicks to 2-of-14 from 3 in the 4th, and just 7-of-27 overall
\nNo One But Brunson: The Playoffs\u2019 leading 4th-quarter scorer (9.5 ppg) logged his 4th-highest scoring 4th of this postseason (12 pts), but only two other Knicks scored on the Spurs in the frame
\n\u201cWe did a good job closing out possessions,\u201d Castle said after San Antonio won the defensive glass 11-9 in the 4th. \u201cJust not allowing them to get second-chance buckets, especially late.\u201d
\nStreak Stoppers: San Antonio held New York to its 2nd-lowest scoring quarter of these Finals, after Game 1\u2019s opener (19 pts), and its 3rd-lowest scoring 4th quarter of these Playoffs<\/p>\n

The Spurs conquered in the clutch by keeping the Knicks from getting the lead at any point in the 4th, a recipe they\u2019ll look to replicate in Game 4, Wednesday (8:30 ET, ABC).<\/p>\n

3. POWELL: FOX SHIFTS SERIES WITH CLUTCH MAKE<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

In between Wemby\u2019s high-scoring will to win and Stephon Castle\u2019s clutch shots, the Spurs got a game-sealing lift from a proven closer.<\/p>\n

De\u2019Aaron Fox scored half of his 12 points in the 4th, and as NBA.com\u2019s Shaun Powell writes, his last bucket Monday served as a reminder of the kind of closer Fox has been throughout his career:<\/p>\n

\u201cFox waved off Victor Wembanyama \u2014 who carried the Spurs all night and common sense screamed that he should\u2019ve been the shot-taker instead \u2014 then shook OG Anunoby off the dribble to calmly knock down the biggest shot of his life.<\/p>\n

Is that hyperbole? Maybe not \u2026<\/p>\n

Maybe the Knicks \u2014 and everyone who wondered about Fox in this series \u2014 must\u2019ve forgot De\u2019Aaron Fox was the first winner<\/a> of the NBA\u2019s Kia Clutch Player of the Year award, back in 2022-23?<\/p>\n

Well, everyone\u2019s memory has now been refreshed.\u201d | Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

4. KNICKS RESET AFTER WIN STREAK SNAPPED<\/p>\n

\"Karl-Anthony<\/p>\n

They rallied from double digits in Game 1. They rallied from double digits in Game 2. And in Game 3, the Knicks were doing it again.<\/p>\n

After trailing by 12 early and 11 after the opening quarter, Madison Square Garden erupted as New York unleashed a 2nd-quarter tsunami.<\/p>\n

Forty-two points in 12 minutes
\nA 10-1 closing burst
\nA 64-57 lead at the break
\nAn 18-point swing<\/p>\n

This time, though, the momentum of the rally couldn\u2019t be sustained.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be in the position that we were going into halftime, to come out in the 3rd the way we did and to not find a way to win the game, obviously, is disappointing,\u201d said Karl-Anthony Towns (11 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl, 2 blk)
\n\u201cBut we\u2019re also professionals and have to understand tomorrow we have to get back to work \u2026 get ready for Game 4.\u201d<\/p>\n

It had been 46 days since the Knicks\u2019 last loss.<\/p>\n

Their historic win streak wasn\u2019t built on looking ahead. It was built on a simple \u201c0-0\u201d mindset \u2013 treating each game as a fresh start.<\/p>\n

According to Jalen Brunson, that won\u2019t change now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important,\u201d said Jalen Brunson on resetting. \u201cWe\u2019ve consistently talked to each other about everything being 0-0. Even now, it\u2019s 0-0\u2026
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve done our best to try to learn from wins over the past couple weeks. But now we have to learn from a loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jalen<\/p>\n

In Brunson\u2019s eyes, those lessons start with taking care of the ball.<\/p>\n

In Games 1 & 2, the Knicks averaged 24.5 assists and just 12 turnovers, while the Spurs averaged 19 assists and 14.5 turnovers
\nIn Game 3, New York finished with only 18 assists and 13 turnovers, while San Antonio committed just eight giveaways
\nThe Result? The Spurs outscored the Knicks 21-7 in points off turnovers \u2013 a 14-point edge in a four-point game
\n\u201cWe turned the ball over a lot, first and foremost,\u201d said Brunson. \u201cOur live ball turnovers got them out in transition. They were capitalizing off of those \u2026
\n\u201cThe little things, the attention to detail,\u201d said Brunson, \u201cthe stuff that we pride ourselves on, we didn\u2019t do tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those details matter in a Finals where New York has outscored San Antonio by just seven points (321-314) through three games.<\/p>\n

Still, the Knicks own a 2-1 series lead.<\/p>\n

But to take a 3-1 advantage in Game 4, they\u2019ll look to be sharper in a series where every possession counts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a great team,\u201d said Knicks coach Mike Brown of San Antonio. \u201cThey are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It\u2019s not going to be easy. We have to keep trying to take one game, one possession at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. ALL-ACCESS: ON THE GROUND AT MSG AS THE FINALS RETURN<\/p>\n

\"Jalen<\/p>\n

It had been 27 years since New York last hosted a Finals game, and the city was buzzing. Feel the electricity as we take you behind the scenes of Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n

Blue & Orange Line: New York welcomed the Knicks home and the Finals back to MSG for the first time in 27 years with a spirited subway redesign<\/a>
\nTeams Trickle In: Follow the Knicks and Spurs from arrivals to on-court <\/a>activity<\/p>\n

\"Knicks<\/p>\n

Brunson\u2019s Back Home: \u201cCaptain Clutch\u201d steps back into<\/a> The Garden looking to help extend the Knicks\u2019 Finals lead
\nWemby Walks In: Victor Wembanyama sported denim-on-denim<\/a> while arriving for his fourth career game at MSG<\/p>\n

\"Madison<\/p>\n

Jumping Back In: Inside \u201cThe World\u2019s Most Famous Arena,\u201d Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O\u2019Neal crossed paths<\/a>, checking up like old times
\n\u201cEveryday, I have a bacon, egg & cheese.\u201d Game 3\u2019s Player Correspondent, Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, is ready for his MSG close-up<\/a>
\nWho\u2019s Who Of NY: From Derek Jeter to Jay-Z, The Garden\u2019s Celeb Row brought out the biggest names<\/a> for Game 3<\/p>\n

\"Victor<\/p>\n

Wait Is Over: The Garden goes crazy<\/a> as the Knicks starters are introduced
\n\u201cLet\u2019s Go Knicks:\u201d\u00a0The energy inside MSG reached a fever pitch<\/a> moments before the opening tip
\nSpecial Guests: Knicks fans welcomed<\/a> Jeremy Lin back to The Garden, and Bronx native Cardi B rocked the halftime<\/a> show
\n\u201cIt\u2019s the first time I haven\u2019t felt really welcomed in New York.\u201d Dylan Harper and the Spurs walked away with<\/a> their first Finals win<\/p>\n

Want to share\u00a0Starting\u00a05\u00a0with a friend?\u00a0Send them this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shape the Starting 5.\u00a0\u00a0Email us here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t have the NBA App? Download it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n