Wembanyama leads Spurs past Knicks 115-111 in NBA Finals Game 3

The San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Monday night in New York, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. It was San Antonio’s first win of the best-of-seven. Victor Wembanyama led the visitors with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday night in New York.

Rookie guard Stephon Castle added 23 points, including 18 before halftime and five late in the fourth quarter to help close it out. The victory prevented San Antonio from falling behind 3-0, a deficit no NBA team has ever overturned in a best-of-seven series. It also served as a response after the Spurs let double-digit leads slip away in narrow losses in Games 1 and 2.

Second-half surge and free throws decide it

San Antonio reset the tempo after halftime, shooting 50% in the third quarter and forcing four turnovers. Julian Champagnie opened the half with six straight points before Wembanyama’s 3-pointer with 5:02 left in the period put the Spurs ahead for good at 79-76.

The fourth quarter turned into a grind — the teams combined to shoot 27.1% — but San Antonio maintained control. Free throws proved decisive after the break as the Spurs went 20-for-24 at the line to the Knicks’ 6-for-8. New York’s late push cut the margin to two when Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby hit consecutive 3-pointers to make it 113-111 with 9.4 seconds remaining, but San Antonio closed it out.

Balanced Spurs; Knicks’ 13-game run snapped

Dylan Harper supplied 13 points off the Spurs’ bench. Starters Champagnie (12 points), De’Aaron Fox (12 points and eight assists) and Devin Vassell (11 points) all reached double figures as San Antonio produced a more balanced finish than in the opening two games.

Brunson finished with 32 points on 11-of-25 shooting for New York, while Anunoby added 28 on 9-of-13. Josh Hart scored 16, Karl-Anthony Towns had 11 and reserve Jordan Clarkson added 10. The defeat ended the Knicks’ 13-game winning run, the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history; the 2017 Golden State Warriors won their first 15 playoff games en route to the title.

Coaches and players target adjustments for Game 4

“I feel like we still haven’t really done anything,” Castle said, noting the Spurs remain behind 2-1 despite the road win. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said his team “showed better poise at times” but still had areas to clean up late. Knicks coach Mike Brown reminded his group, “It’s a seven-game series for a reason. They are a great team… It’s not going to be easy.”

Wembanyama described the shift away from an intense New York atmosphere, saying on the road it can feel like “five against six.” Towns said the Knicks deviated from the habits that fueled their run: “Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row — that’s how you lose a game.”

This is just the second NBA Finals in which the road team won the first three games. In 1993, the Chicago Bulls took the first two on the road before the Phoenix Suns won Game 3; the Bulls won that series in six games.

Both teams now turn to Game 4 on Wednesday in New York, where the Knicks will try to restore control and the Spurs will seek to level the Finals at 2-2. Adjustments around pace, defensive matchups and late-game execution will shape the next chapter.