Victor Wembanyama carries Spurs to
115-111 win that cuts Knicks' NBA Finals lead to 2-1
[June 09, 2026]
By BRIAN MAHONEY
NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama has his first NBA Finals win — and
the New York Knicks suddenly have a lot of work left to end their
53-year championship drought.
Wembanyama had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists, carrying
the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory Monday night that cut the
Knicks’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
San Antonio is trying to make a first-of-its-kind NBA Finals
comeback, and the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, with his array of skills,
makes anything look possible.
“I’m sure Victor has numerous sources of motivation,” Spurs coach
Mitch Johnson said. “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 and
potentially salvaged their season in front of a Madison Square
Garden crowd that included President Donald Trump.
The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak, the second-longest in
NBA postseason history, snapped and missed a chance to move to the
brink of their first title since 1973. Their previous loss occurred
on April 23 in a one-point defeat to the Atlanta Hawks. They won the
next three against Atlanta, swept Philadelphia and Cleveland and
took the first two games against the Spurs.
The run stirred New York into a frenzy, with raucous watch parties,
fans paying outrageous sums of money for tickets and “Knicks In
Four” becoming a daily greeting on streets, subway cars and in
workplaces.
But Wembanyama and the Spurs ended the streak and ruined the Knicks'
first home NBA Finals game since 1999.
“At home, it really feels like playing six against five. Here, it
feels like five against six,” Wembanyama said. “It really shows what
teams are made of.”
Knicks coach Mike Brown complained about the Spurs’ 24-8 advantage
in free throw attempts in the second half.
“I tell the guys, it’s a seven-game series for a reason,” Brown
said. “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 hit big shots late as the Spurs
avoided falling into a 3-0 hole, which no NBA team has escaped. Now
they can tie the series Wednesday night and are guaranteed another
game at home, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday.
Castle finished with 23 points as the Spurs got started in their
quest to become the first team to win the NBA Finals after losing
the first two games at home.
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points and OG Anunoby had 28 for the Knicks.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks as New York
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) looks on during the second
half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Monday, June 8,
2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Fans who endured long lines to get in with the
extra security measures in place — and some who paid five-figure
sums for the chance to do so — were treated to a back-and-forth game
as the NBA Finals returned to Madison Square Garden for the first
time in 27 years.
Wembanyama, whose turnover late in Game 2 cost the Spurs dearly,
didn’t make many mistakes Monday. He had 10 points in the final
quarter, helping San Antonio build just enough of a cushion to
withstand Brunson's latest comeback attempt.
Minutes after Trump was booed loudly when he was shown during the
national anthem, the Spurs got off to an ideal start. Wembanyama
dunked for their first two baskets and they had a double-digit lead
4 1/2 minutes into the game. San Antonio made nine of its first 11
shots, with the Knicks and their fans frustrated by the referees and
the home team’s sloppy play, and led 33-22 after one.
The Garden crowd didn’t really start to rock until Anunoby’s
3-pointer capped an 11-2 surge that cut it to 40-38. The Knicks got
their first lead of the night on Brunson's 26-footer as part of a
big burst to finish the half. New York led 64-57 at the break.
But the Spurs went back ahead in the third quarter and led 111-104
on Castle's 3-pointer with 1:53 to play. Castle then closed the
scoring with two free throws with 6.8 seconds left after Anunoby's
3-pointer cut it to two.
The Knicks had piled up massive scoring margins while romping
through the Eastern Conference playoffs, then were just good enough
in the two games in San Antonio. This time, a horrible start to the
fourth quarter put them too far behind.
A star-studded crowd that included Derek Jeter and Eli Manning,
champions of New York teams in other sports, was hoping to see the
Knicks move closer to a third NBA title. But with Karl-Anthony Towns
limited to 11 points and Mikal Bridges saddled with foul trouble, a
team that had been so potent in the postseason struggled for long
stretches.
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