Spurs back in NBA Finals fight ahead of crucial Game 4
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Victor Wembanyama at the end of Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs survived a pivotal Game 3 on Monday and now have a chance to even the NBA Finals on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Why it matters: San Antonio's 115-111 win over the Knicks showed the young Spurs aren't rattled by the Finals stage — or one of the league's toughest road environments.
State of play: After dropping the first two games at home, the Spurs were on the verge of falling into a nearly insurmountable hole.
- Instead, they responded with their best offensive performance of the Finals, fueled by Victor Wembanyama's 32 points and Stephon Castle's 23.
- They were the first pair of teammates age 22 or younger to each score 20 points or more in a Finals game.
What they're saying: "I think everybody was feeling good. I didn't want us to get too happy about one win," Castle told reporters. "I think since the end of Game 2 we've still been confident that we're gonna win this series. That's what we plan to do."
Here's what we're watching.
A charged atmosphere in New York
Violence that erupted after Monday's game has become an unexpected subplot heading into Game 4.
- In a statement to Axios San Antonio, New York police said roughly 7,000 people attended a Knicks watch party near Bryant Park. Police reported multiple fights, traffic disruptions, 21 arrests, and injuries to five officers.
- Videos circulating online that appear to show assaults on Spurs fans have drawn reactions from former athletes, actors, politicians and Wemby, who called the incidents "unacceptable."
Spotlight on the whistle
Knicks coach Mike Brown criticized officials after Game 3, while star center Karl-Anthony Towns denied that the officiating cost them the game.
- The question now is whether New York's complaints lead to a different whistle in Game 4 after San Antonio attempted 24 free throws in the second half of Game 3 while erasing a 7-point halftime deficit.
Dylan Harper's growing Finals role
Harper finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes, continuing a Finals run that has already put the rookie in the NBA record books.
- He led the Spurs with five fourth-quarter rebounds, helping San Antonio close out the win.