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NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama has secured his first NBA Finals win, putting the New York Knicks in a challenging position as they aim to end their
53-year championship drought. Wembanyama scored 32 points, alongside eight rebounds and six assists, propelling the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory on Monday night, reducing the Knicks' series lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven matchup.
San Antonio is attempting to achieve a historic comeback in the NBA Finals, and the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, with his diverse skill set, makes this possibility seem attainable.“I’m sure Victor has numerous sources of motivation,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “I don’t think any of us are surprised or expect anything different than a strong performance.”
The Spurs handed the Knicks their first loss in 46 days, potentially saving their season in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that included President Donald Trump.
The Knicks, who had a 13-game winning streak—the second-longest in NBA postseason history—snapped, missed an opportunity to move closer to their first title since 1973. Their last loss occurred on April 23, a one-point defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. They rebounded to win the next three against Atlanta, swept Philadelphia and Cleveland, and took the first two games against the Spurs.
This impressive run had stirred excitement in New York, with fans engaging in lively watch parties, purchasing tickets at exorbitant prices, and exchanging greetings of “Knicks In Four” throughout the city.
However, Wembanyama and the Spurs halted the Knicks' momentum, marking the first home NBA Finals game for New York since 1999.
“At home, it really feels like playing six against five. Here, it feels like five against six,” Wembanyama remarked. “It really shows what teams are made of.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown expressed concerns regarding the Spurs’ 24-8 advantage in free throw attempts during the second half.
“I tell the guys, it’s a seven-game series for a reason,” Brown stated. “They are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player. It’s not going to be easy.”
Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox made crucial shots late in the game, allowing the Spurs to avoid a 3-0 series deficit, a situation from which no NBA team has ever recovered. The Spurs now have a chance to tie the series on Wednesday night and are assured another home game, with Game 5 set for Saturday.
Castle contributed 23 points, marking the Spurs' initial steps toward becoming the first team to win the NBA Finals after losing the first two games at home.
For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby scored 32 and 28 points, respectively.
Fans who faced lengthy lines due to heightened security measures—and some who spent five-figure sums for the chance to attend—witnessed a competitive game as the NBA Finals returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 27 years.
Wembanyama, whose late turnover in Game 2 proved costly for the Spurs, minimized mistakes on Monday, scoring 10 points in the final quarter to help San Antonio maintain a slight lead despite Brunson's attempts at a comeback.
Shortly after Trump was booed during the national anthem, the Spurs started strong, with Wembanyama dunking for their first two baskets and establishing a double-digit lead just 4.5 minutes into the game. San Antonio made nine of its first 11 shots, frustrating the Knicks and their fans, leading 33-22 after the first quarter.
The Garden crowd erupted when Anunoby’s 3-pointer capped an 11-2 run that narrowed the gap to 40-38. The Knicks took their first lead of the night on Brunson's 26-foot shot, concluding a strong finish to the half with a 64-57 advantage at the break.
However, the Spurs regained the lead in the third quarter, going up 111-104 on Castle's 3-pointer with 1:53 left in the game. Castle sealed the scoring with two free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining after Anunoby's 3-pointer reduced the margin to two points.
The Knicks had previously achieved significant scoring margins throughout their Eastern Conference playoff run, but a poor start to the fourth quarter proved too much to overcome this time.
A star-studded crowd, including Derek Jeter and Eli Manning, champions of New York teams in other sports, hoped to see the Knicks move closer to a third NBA title. However, with Karl-Anthony Towns limited to 11 points and Mikal Bridges facing foul trouble, a team that had been so effective in the postseason struggled at crucial moments.
