Image via the NBA
The NBA Finals are officially a series again.
Facing a 2-0 deficit and the possibility of falling into a nearly impossible hole, the San Antonio Spurs responded with their best performance of the Finals, defeating the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
Here are three major takeaways from the pivotal contest:
1. Victor Wembanyama Delivered A Superstar Performance
The brightest stars are expected to shine in the biggest moments, and Victor Wembanyama did exactly that.
The Spurs franchise cornerstone put together a dominant all-around performance, finishing with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals. Beyond the numbers, Wembanyama controlled the game defensively and repeatedly came through in critical moments.
Whether it was protecting the rim, creating offense for teammates, or knocking down timely baskets, Wembanyama looked every bit like a player ready to claim the Finals spotlight.
2. San Antonio’s Young Core Showed Remarkable Composure
After dropping the first two games of the series, many wondered how the Spurs’ young roster would respond to the pressure.
They answered emphatically.
Stephon Castle provided a huge boost offensively, contributing 23 points while making several key plays down the stretch in a bounce back performance. He also provided solid defense against Jalen Brunson, as forced him to hoist 25 shots to get his 32 points. The Spurs maintained their aggression throughout the night and never appeared rattled despite playing in one of the league’s most hostile environments.
Rather than allowing the series to slip away, San Antonio demonstrated resilience and maturity beyond its years.
3. New York Needs More From Its Supporting Cast
Although Jalen Brunson continued to shoulder much of the offensive burden, as he is averaging 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists, but is shooting just 36.6% from the floor. With Brunson not quite his usual efficient self, the Knicks will need additional production from others in the hope it will take some of that load off their All-Star guard , but also to open up more high-efficient opportunities for Brunson.
OG Anunoby provided valuable scoring, with 28 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns seemed to be an offensive afterthought and did not have the impact he did in the first two games, struggled to find a consistent rhythm and Mikal Bridges had little offensive impact as he scored 2 points more than I did and took just 5 shots in the contest. As a team, New York failed to generate enough secondary scoring during crucial stretches of the game.
If the Knicks hope to avoid returning to San Antonio with the series tied, they’ll need significantly more offensive balance in Game 4. They will have to get Karl-Anthony Towns going early and allow him to be a hub for the Knicks’ offense and Bridges will have to make more than a token appearance on offense.
Final Thoughts
The Knicks still hold a 2-1 series advantage, but Game 3 may have altered the trajectory of the Finals.
The Spurs proved they can win on the road and showed they have the star power and confidence necessary to compete for a championship. With momentum now shifting toward San Antonio, Game 4 has suddenly become the most important game of the series.
What was your biggest takeaway from Game 3? Did Wembanyama take control of the Finals, or should Knicks fans still feel confident with a 2-1 lead? Let us know in the comments.
