Victor Wembanyama, Spurs overcome Knicks and raucous Madison Square Garden to win NBA Finals Game 3
05, Jul 2026The New York Knicks’ win streak is over — and drama in the NBA Finals has begun.
In front of a New York audience that included President Trump, countless celebrities and fans who shelled out thousands of dollars for tickets, the San Antonio Spurs won Game 3 on Monday, 115-111, to cut their series deficit to 2-1. They did it by overcoming one of the most raucous atmospheres in the history of Madison Square Garden.
San Antonio led by as many as 12 points in the first half but lost its lead before halftime and eventually trailed New York by seven points. Knicks role players including OG Anunoby and Josh Hart repeatedly made shots to offset a slow shooting start by star guard Jalen Brunson.
Yet behind Victor Wembanyama’s most complete, forceful performance of the series, the Spurs clung to a slight lead throughout the fourth quarter to ensure that the Spurs will at least avoid a sweep.
Wembanyama celebrates Monday. Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio is trying to pull off a historic comeback, as no team in NBA history has ever lost the first two games of the Finals at home and gone on to win the championship.
New York, hosting its first Finals game since 1999, saw a 13-game postseason winning streak that was the second-longest in playoff history come to an end.
Wembanyama scored 32 points, with eight rebounds, six assists and just one turnover, in a poised response following his late turnover that doomed the Spurs’ Game 2 loss. He is the second-youngest player ever, behind only Magic Johnson, to record at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists in the Finals. Stephon Castle added 23 points, and rookie Dylan Harper dropped 13 points.
“Less mistakes, more control,” Wembanyama said on the ABC broadcast.
New York’s Brunson scored 32 points on 25 shots, and Anunoby scored 28 points for New York, which was hosting its first Finals game since 1999. The hours before tipoff were chaotic, with fans waiting in long lines to get into Madison Square Garden. Heightened security protocols due to the presence of Trump led police to shut down several blocks around the arena. Watch parties took place in all five boroughs.
But those fans went home unsatisfied after San Antonio produced 10 more assists, committed five fewer turnovers and shot 10 more free throws than New York.
With 1:53 to play in the fourth quarter, Castle’s 3-pointer as the shot-clock expired pushed San Antonio ahead, 111-104, to the audible groans of a home crowd that arrived expecting to see the Knicks move one win closer to their first NBA championship since 1973.
Trailing by six in the final minute, Brunson made a step-back 3-pointer to pull the Knicks within three points, reviving hopes of a third straight New York comeback win. San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox answered, weaving his way through the paint to sink a 12-foot jump shot from the free-throw line over Anunoby for a five-point cushion with 12 seconds left.
Anunoby then made a desperate 3-pointer with six seconds to play, but San Antonio’s Castle, only 21, calmly sank two free throws to effectively end the Knicks’ threat.
Game 4 is Wednesday.
26d ago / 11:51 PM EDT
The Alien stepped up in Game 3
26d ago / 11:34 PM EDT
Spurs win Game 3
San Antonio, behind a huge fourth quarter, outlasted New York on the road to win 115-111 at Madison Square Garden on Monday. The series is now 2-1 Knicks with Game 4 on Wednesday night.
Victor Wembanyama led the way with 32 points and eight rebounds.
26d ago / 11:13 PM EDT
The vibe is tense right now
You can feel the gravity of this quarter at Madison Square Garden right now. The often-deafening Knicks crowd seems to be tensing up.
There’s no doubt a New York run would bring people to their feet, though. Can the Spurs keep their nerve if and when that happens?
26d ago / 11:07 PM EDT
Wemby leading with his words tonight
After San Antonio's Dylan Harper missed a one-man fastbreak layup, at the next pause in play, Victor Wembanyama approached him with a few words of encouragement. Wemby did the same earlier after Keldon Johnson missed a free throw. He seems to be taking more of a leadership role tonight.
26d ago / 11:06 PM EDT
Four fouls on Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns was holding down the arm of Victor Wembanyama while both went for a rebound, earning his fourth foul. But Towns, a player who throughout his career has regularly gotten into foul trouble, has stayed in the game.
26d ago / 10:59 PM EDT
Knicks' challenge could be a hinge moment
A review by officials found that San Antonio's Keldon Johnson pushed New York's Mitchell Robinson into Victor Wembanyama on his 3-point-and-foul that put the Spurs ahead 103-93. The foul by Johnson wiped out the basket, reducing San Antonio's lead to 100-93 — and on the very next possession New York trimmed it to 100-95.
That is a huge swing that could be looked back on as a turning point depending on the outcome.
26d ago / 10:55 PM EDT
San Antonio stretches its lead to double digits
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images
Credit the young Spurs for not being daunted in this spectacle atmosphere tonight at Madison Square Garden, especially after falling behind to end the first half. San Antonio leads, 103-93, after a 3-pointer by Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs might add to that lead if a foul on the shot is upheld after a review.
26d ago / 10:51 PM EDT
Fans are getting a little restless
The energy is turning ever so slightly in MSG, as the Spurs have played a great second half and now the Knicks are in fourth-quarter foul trouble. This place is still ready to explode at even the hint of a run, but San Antonio has definitely managed to quiet things as best it could.
26d ago / 10:49 PM EDT
Jalen Brunson has yet to check in due to foul trouble
Brunson's four fouls, only two from being disqualified, have kept him on the bench since the 4:29 mark of the third quarter. Although the Spurs have put their star player, Victor Wembanyama, back in to start the fourth quarter, Brunson is still waiting his turn.
26d ago / 10:47 PM EDT
Spurs' free throws could loom large in close game
San Antonio is having another tough night at the free-throw line. Here's how the Spurs fared in each of the first three games of the series. If Game 3 is close down the stretch, pay attention to this final number.
Game 1: 20-of-25
Game 2: 19-of-27
Game 3: 17-of-24 so far
26d ago / 10:41 PM EDT
End of the third quarter: Spurs 92, Knicks 91
Take a deep breath, because Game 3 is about to enter the stretch run. Dylan Harper and Jordan Clarkson traded 3-pointers to end the third quarter; it was Harper's first made 3 of the night, and he's now 1-for-6. He has struggled thoughout the series from deep, but has been nearly unstoppable once he reaches the paint.
Just four offensive rebounds tonight for San Antonio.
26d ago / 10:41 PM EDT
This is a defining quarter for Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama has played only 27 minutes through three quarters, which means he should be very well rested to play the entire fourth tonight.
The Spurs' Victor Wembanyama on Monday. Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images
Wemby will re-enter the game with a 1-point lead on a night he’s been a plus-four on the floor. Simply put: This is a superstar moment for Wembanyama. If he plays well, the Spurs should be able to win this game. He has to have the best quarter of his season to make it happen, though.
Does the young star have it in him?
26d ago / 10:39 PM EDT
Celebrities at Game 3
Per the NBA, there are 96 celebrities at tonight's Knicks-Spurs game at Madison Square Garden, including:
• Adrien Brody
• Alex Rodriguez
• Ben Stiller
• Cardi B
• Chris Rock
• Dave Chappelle
• Derek Jeter
• DJ Khaled
• Eli Manning
• Fat Joe
• Jay-Z
• Jon Hamm
• Mariska Hargitay
• Patrick Ewing
• Spike Lee
• Timothée Chalamet
• Tina Fey
• Walt Frazier
26d ago / 10:34 PM EDT
Wembanyama, Brunson head to the bench for breather
Both teams have taken out their stars to give them what is likely their last opportunity to catch their breath, which makes this a key 3-minute stretch for one of these teams to take an edge entering the fourth quarter.
It's currently an 84-81 Spurs lead. Both teams are 9-for-21 on 3-pointers tonight.
26d ago / 10:31 PM EDT
The grifting has begun
Both teams are in the bonus late in the third, and now both are seeking out contact to get to the line. These last three-plus minutes could take a while.
26d ago / 10:20 PM EDT
The Spurs strike back
San Antonio isn't close to folding, retaking the lead, 72-71, with 7:20 left in the third quarter after five unanswered points to close the gap. Victor Wembanyama is up to 17 points, including a jumper from the free-throw line in that mini-run. De'Aaron Fox has seven assists.
26d ago / 10:08 PM EDT
The third quarter is under way
Play has resumed in Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks are hanging onto a 64-59 lead a minute into the third quarter.
26d ago / 10:03 PM EDT
Phones out for Cardi B's halftime show
Cardi B performs at halftime Monday. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images
During Cardi B's brief halftime performance, thousands of Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden pulled out their phones to capture the moment, including at least one on-duty NYPD officer. It's not every day the NBA Finals come to New York City.
26d ago / 9:55 PM EDT
At halftime, Knicks have their largest lead
A 14-3 run to end the first half has given the Knicks their largest lead of the night at 64-57.
It's a deflating end to the half for San Antonio, which looked more comfortable to start and led by as many as 12 points. But the Spurs were outscored despite a 2-of-7 shooting start by New York's Jalen Brunson, with OG Anunoby and Josh Hart picking up the offensive slack. New York has taken 14 free throws, six more than San Antonio.
26d ago / 9:50 PM EDT
The party will continue at halftime
The Knicks just announced Cardi B as the halftime performer. The vibes are quite high right now.
26d ago / 9:50 PM EDT
MSG is rocking as Knicks take lead
Madison Square Garden. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images
When Jalen Brunson hit a 3-pointer to give the Knicks a five-point lead late in the first half, the Garden erupted so much that the 300-level bridge, where your two NBC News correspondents are sitting, began to shake. Knicks fans are hungry for a championship, and they're showing it tonight.
26d ago / 9:48 PM EDT
OG Anunoby, Josh Hart have kept the Knicks in this game
With 17 points in 19 minutes, Anunoby has gone from his usual role of a complementary player to a vital scorer in Game 3. And Josh Hart's transformation has been even more pronounced. He scored three points combined in the first two games yet has 13 in the first half.
After a 3-pointer by Jalen Brunson, the Knicks lead 62-57, their largest of the night. This is a 17-point turnaround by New York.
26d ago / 9:45 PM EDT
Fans chant anti-Wemby lines outside MSG
26d ago / 9:43 PM EDT
Some fans outside MSG forced to watch on tablets
Boxed out of the free watch party at Bryant Park that some attendees said sold out in one minute, a handful of fans are watching together on a tablet. The 5,000 capacity has limited those who can see the big screen up close.
26d ago / 9:40 PM EDT
Nobody was sitting down after that Jalen Brunson 3
The Knicks briefly had the lead after a 3 from Jalen Brunson, and that brought nearly the entirety of the crowd to its feet. Wemby quickly answered with a 3 of his own, but full pandemonium was close.
26d ago / 9:39 PM EDT
Steph Castle finishing through traffic
During pre-game warm-ups, Spurs guard Stephon Castle was practicing driving into the line with a team staffer applying pressure. That practice has carried over to the game, where Castle has scored 18 points in the first half, on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, several of which have come through contact.
26d ago / 9:37 PM EDT
Young Spurs have come to play
The combination of Victor Wembanyama (third NBA season), Stephon Castle (second) and Dylan Harper (first) have combined for 33 of San Antonio's 49 points on 14 of 22 shooting. They've helped the Spurs take a five-point lead midway through the second quarter.
Castle has particularly been fantastic, with 18 points while making 7 of his 8 shots, and he's been relentless at getting into the paint using patient drives.
26d ago / 9:32 PM EDT
Slow start for Jalen Brunson
Jalen Brunson has endured a difficult shooting start for a third straight Finals game. He's 2 of 7 thus far and has made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line for five points in 13 minutes.
26d ago / 9:27 PM EDT
Here come the Knicks
New York has trailed all game, but that deficit is just 40-38 with 8 minutes to play before halftime after an 8-0 run in just the last 60 seconds. It was sparked by a 3-pointer by Knicks reserve Jordan Clarkson as soon as he checked into the game.
26d ago / 9:18 PM EDT
Slow start hasn’t affected the crowd
Though the Knicks have trailed the entire game so far, the crowd has been as raucous as expected. There is an undeniable energy in the building tonight. If and when New York goes on a run, the Spurs need to be ready for what will likely feel close to an avalanche.
26d ago / 9:15 PM EDT
End of 1st quarter: Spurs 33, Knicks 22
The Knicks have won the first two games by overcoming double-digit deficits, and they face another in Game 3.
San Antonio looked like the most settled team throughout the first 12 minutes, while the Knicks had defensive breakdowns and spotty offensive efficiency. The best sign for the Spurs is that Victor Wembanyama has responded to two up-and-down games with nine points in his first nine minutes. San Antonio is shooting 58% to 42% for New York.
26d ago / 9:15 PM EDT
Loudest cheer of the night? For a Mitchell Robinson free throw
This Madison Square Garden crowd has been rowdy so far, booing President Trump and Victor Wembanyama, cheering every Knicks basket. But one of the loudest cheers came in the first quarter's waning moments, when backup big man Mitchell Robinson made a free throw that seemed to bounce off of every part of the rim.
The Knicks won Game 2 by 1 point, so every free throw from Robinson, who shot under 41 percent from the line in the regular season, could make a difference.
26d ago / 9:13 PM EDT
Crowd reaction when Trump was shown on screen
President Trump was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem. He received mostly boos.
26d ago / 9:07 PM EDT
Knicks fan says she paid $20,000 for a ticket to Game 3
Monday's Game 3 of the NBA Finals is one of the priciest sporting events ever, as it cost thousands of dollars just to get in the building. NBC News spoke with some fans outside Madison Square Garden to see how much they paid.
26d ago / 9:05 PM EDT
San Antonio builds double-digit lead
The Spurs built a 24-13 lead with four minutes to play in the opening quarter after making 10 of their first 13 shots. But they've slightly cooled off since, and New York has cut into that lead. The score is now 24-17.
26d ago / 9:03 PM EDT
Bryant Park crowd getting into it for Game 3
Bryant Park in New York on Monday. Amina Kilpatrick / NBC News
There’s a loud roar from the park every time the Knicks score. Currently chanting “let’s go Knicks” for whatever just happened.
26d ago / 9:01 PM EDT
Star power on celebrity row for Game 3
It's no surprise to see Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Ben and Fat Joe tonight. They’re all courtside mainstays.
See more photos from Game 3 here.
Tracy Morgan cheers alongside Timothée Chalamet courtside at Madison Square Garden tonight. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images
26d ago / 8:59 PM EDT
John Starks is making his presence felt
The former Knicks guard is sitting on the baseline, though during a recent OG Anunoby bucket he stood up to complain to the referee, seemingly about Wemby camping out in the paint.
26d ago / 8:57 PM EDT
Derek Jeter is in the house tonight
The longtime Yankees star just got shown some love on the jumbotron during the first timeout at MSG.
26d ago / 8:54 PM EDT
Two 3-pointers for Josh Hart
The Spurs are letting Knicks guard Josh Hart shoot from deep, and he’s responded with two 3-pointers already. Lots of teams go to that stratefy on Hart, but he’s capable of making it backfire.
26d ago / 8:52 PM EDT
Spurs emphasizing getting Wemby the ball inside
In the first four minutes of the game, the Spurs have found Victor Wembanyama inside three times, for three easy buckets. San Antonio is clearly emphasizing that, after Wembanyama struggled with New York's physicality inside in Games 1 and 2.
26d ago / 8:51 PM EDT
Turnovers, fouls are early problems for Knicks
Mikal Bridges already has two fouls and has gone to the bench, and Jalen Brunson just earned his first foul, all within the first four minutes of this game. New York also has three turnovers. The combination has left New York trailing by as many as nine points.
26d ago / 8:49 PM EDT
What a start for Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio's star big man has intentionally tried to get the ball close to the basket rather than drift toward the 3-point line, and he's been rewarded with two baskets at the rim. On the other end, Wembanyama has blocked a 3-pointer.
San Antonio leads, 9-5, three minutes into this game.
26d ago / 8:45 PM EDT
At long last, Game 3 has begun
Madison Square Garden tonight. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images
After three days of anticipation for New York's first Finals game since 1999, the game has tipped off with the Knicks trying to build on their 2-0 series lead. San Antonio won the tip.
26d ago / 8:41 PM EDT
Boos for President Trump
It definitely felt like mostly boos for President Trump, who was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem. The president smiled as he saluted through the song.
The jeers were followed by raucous cheers for the Knicks.
26d ago / 8:35 PM EDT
Donald Trump is here in time for tipoff
President Trump was spotted in the suite level, and it appears he’ll be watching the game with Knicks owner James Dolan.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on prior to a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks today. Al Bello / Getty Images
26d ago / 8:24 PM EDT
Impressive showing by Knicks fans
Knicks fans braved the extra security and long lines to fill out MSG before tipoff. There are very few empty seats in here!
26d ago / 8:12 PM EDT
Karl-Anthony Towns is outplaying Victor Wembanyama so far
If the vote took place after two games, Karl-Anthony Towns would be the NBA Finals MVP. It’s not just me saying that.
“The MVP of the Finals is gonna be Karl-Anthony Towns. That man earned his flowers,” Charles Barkley said on Inside the NBA Friday night.
That nod to Towns is with all due respect to Jalen Brunson, who has lived up to the Captain Clutch nickname in two straight games. It’s with all due respect to Mikal Bridges, who has played his best basketball in the Finals.
Without Towns playing at this level, New York is down 0-2 in this series.
Towns scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting with 13 rebounds on Friday night, but his counting stats don’t do his impact in this series justice. His physical defense on Wembanyama has kept the Spurs star off balance and in relative check for most of the first two games (or at least seven of the eight quarters).
26d ago / 8:08 PM EDT
A sneak peek at Celebrity Row?
Courtside at Madison Square Garden is currently the hottest club in New York.
Timothée Chalamet arrives courtside at Madison Square Garden on June 8, 2026. Yuki Iwamura / AP
If the pregame rehearsal was any clue, expect to see diehard fans Timotheé Chalamet and Ben Stiller seated next to each other. A few hours before the game, the jumbotron ran a video of Chalamet giving a speech from the “Dune” movies, and then the videoboard welcomed the two actors together at the same time.
26d ago / 8:03 PM EDT
Very long lines for employees, media and fans tonight
The added security as a result of President Trump’s plan to attend Game 3 of the Finals led to a lot of waiting around tonight.
New York Knicks fans wait to enter Madison Square Garden today. Craig T Fruchtman / Getty Images
Media members arrived as early as 3 p.m. before doors opened at 4:30.
NBC News spoke to one Madison Square Garden employee who said kitchen staff that normally enter near 6 a.m. did not make it in until 8 a.m. because of added screening.
And with roughly an hour to go until tipoff, there are still droves of fans outside waiting to get into the arena.
26d ago / 7:50 PM EDT
Early boos for Victor Wembanyama
Wemby just ran across the floor with about 45 minutes until tipoff, and the Knicks fans that have managed to make it inside MSG already responded with some hearty jeers.
26d ago / 7:46 PM EDT
New Yorkers yell as presidential motorcade nears MSG
The presidential motorcade is crossing 34th street. A large crowd has gathered. A smaller crowd around 34th and 6th avenue were chanting “F--- Trump.”
26d ago / 7:43 PM EDT
New York rocking ahead of Game 3
Thousands of Knicks fans are in Manhattan today ahead of the biggest game in nearly three decades.
26d ago / 7:34 PM EDT
The headliners are in the building
The Knicks have to feel good with a 2-0 lead even though star guard Jalen Brunson is shooting just 33.9% in this series. That includes making 4 of his 17 3-pointers. Remarkably, New York has actually been outscored by four points in his 75 total minutes through two games, yet his critical shot-making in the fourth quarters has come when his team has needed it most.
26d ago / 7:20 PM EDT
Spurs have 'absolutely nothing to lose' in Game 3
Reggie Miller joins Dan Patrick to preview Game 3 of the NBA Finals, discussing which team faces more pressure and why this is the best he has ever seen the New York Knicks play.
26d ago / 6:47 PM EDT
Wemby says he's not worried down 0-2 in series
While the atmosphere should be equal parts raucous and circus at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, the Spurs are desperate to win a basketball game in the middle of it all. San Antonio is looking to bounce back after falling short of a comeback in a devastating manner in Game 2.
“We need to capitalize, actually use all the efforts we did,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said yesterday about what he learned from the first two games of the series. “It felt like we did a lot of things wrong, but we also were relentless and kept pushing, but kind of, like, wasted that effort.”
26d ago / 6:28 PM EDT
Knicks fans are not happy Trump is attending Game 3
26d ago / 6:11 PM EDT
Spurs en route to MSG
26d ago / 5:47 PM EDT
KAT has been the MVP of NBA Finals so far
The Dan Patrick Show examine Game 3 of the NBA Finals with the New York Knicks returning home to MSG up 2-0 against the San Antonio Spurs.
26d ago / 5:26 PM EDT
Knicks say $1 million was the winning bid for 2 celebrity row seats for Game 3 of the NBA Finals
In the NBA Finals, celebrity row property is worth $1 million.
The New York Knicks announced that it was the winning bid in an auction for two seats for Game 3 on Monday night, the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999.
The winning bid was split by the law firm Gibson Dunn and private equity firm Veritas Capital. The fundraiser benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, and the Knicks said it was the largest single donation in the history of the foundation, which works with MSG’s companies to assist children at need in the tristate area.
Read the full article here.
26d ago / 5:07 PM EDT
New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing and super fan Tracy Morgan stop by the "TODAY" plaza ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals to celebrate basketball fever in New York City and discuss the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Then, they surprise young fans on the plaza with 250 tickets to Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.
26d ago / 4:41 PM EDT
With NBA Finals shifting to New York, can Spurs slow Knicks’ roll to the title?
Through two games, the New York Knicks have been clearly the better team in the NBA Finals. They have the best player in the series so far in Karl-Anthony Towns, the most clutch player in Jalen Brunson, and they have been the better defensive team.
Now those Knicks — winners of 13 playoff games in a row — head home to what will be a frenzied Madison Square Garden and home fans desperate for the team’s first title in 53 years — even President Donald Trump will be in attendance.
“The Garden is going to be rocking,” Josh Hart said of the atmosphere. “Obviously, in this city, we love our Knicks. So we’re going to come out, show love, support. The energy is going to be electric.”
What do the Spurs need to do to turn this series around and stop it from becoming a Knicks coronation?
“Resilience,” De’Aaron Fox said. “Obviously, losing two games at home is never ideal, but we have to be able to let those two games go and look forward, look ahead toward the game that’s in front of us.”
26d ago / 4:41 PM EDT
The Spurs’ secret weapon this postseason? A former coach offering pearls of wisdom
The San Antonio Spurs had just lost Game 3 of the Western Conference finals in demoralizing fashion. Oklahoma City had beaten them by 15 points on the Spurs’ home court to take a 2-1 series lead, and San Antonio decided to have a closed-door meeting immediately following the game.
This wasn’t just any team meeting, though. In the locker room were front office personnel, trainers, various staff — people who wouldn’t normally be in there postgame.
“We closed the doors. ‘We don’t let anybody know what’s going on in here,’ Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox later recalled on a Peacock broadcast, evidently breaking the meeting’s one rule. Moments later, the door opened. “We see Pop come in, and it’s like, ‘ahhhh,’ ” Fox said, raising his voice in excitement.
Gregg Popovich, the former Spurs head coach, wanted to convey a message to the team. “That’s BS. That’s not how we play basketball,” he said, according to Fox.
26d ago / 4:41 PM EDT
Can Spurs bounce back in Game 3 of NBA Finals?
Trysta Krick and Vaughn Dalzell preview Game 3 of the NBA Finals and debate if the Spurs can get back in the series after surprisingly going down 2-0 to the New York Knicks.
