The San Antonio Spurs successfully fended off a fierce second-quarter surge by the New York Knicks to claim a 115-111 victory in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Tuesday (Philippine time).
With the crucial road win at Madison Square Garden, San Antonio narrowed New York’s lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven championship series.
The Spurs found their rhythm early, exploding for 33 points in the opening quarter to capture a comfortable lead. The momentum shifted drastically before halftime, however, as the Knicks staged a dominant second-quarter performance to outscore the visitors and head into the locker room with a 64-57 advantage.
San Antonio adjusted well during the intermission, steadily chipping away at the deficit throughout the third period.
Capitalizing on timely offensive execution and tightening up their perimeter defense, the Spurs clawed back to take a slim 92-91 edge into the final frame.
The fourth quarter evolved into a back-and-forth thriller featuring multiple lead changes. In the game’s closing minutes, the Spurs displayed greater composure on both ends of the floor—converting critical possessions and clamping down on New York’s key scorers to secure the four-point victory.
Victor Wembanyama spearheaded the effort for San Antonio, logging 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. With this stellar performance, the star center became the first visiting player in NBA Finals history to record a 30-5-5 stat line at Madison Square Garden.
Rookie teammate Stephon Castle provided essential support in the win, turning in 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while knocking down two critical three-pointers.
Jalen Brunson led the offensive charge for New York, dropping 32 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists, keeping the Knicks within striking distance until the final buzzer.
Despite failing to close out the game on their home floor, the Knicks still hold a 2-1 series advantage. The spotlight now shifts to a pivotal Game 4, where the Spurs will look to level the series and the Knicks will attempt to pull within one win of the NBA title.