Wembanyama leads Spurs to 115-111 Game 3 victory, halts Knicks’ 13-game play-off streak
The Mt Kenya Times 
Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle silence Madison Square Garden as San Antonio cut the series deficit to 2-1
By Norman Mwale
Victor Wembanyama produced a statement performance at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, scoring 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, snapping New York’s 13-game play-off winning streak and pulling the series back to 2-1.
The 22-year-old French centre was dominant from the opening tip, throwing down the game’s first four points and finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals in 39 minutes. He shot 11-for-18 from the field, including two three-pointers, and converted 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, including a perfect 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter.
“Facing a 2-0 deficit in the Finals and the most hostile crowd he has likely faced to this point in his young career, Wemby was the best player on the floor,” said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson. “Every time New York threatened to take control, he responded with a clutch basket, a defensive stop or a momentum-shifting play.”
San Antonio opened the contest with a 7-0 run and led 33-22 after the first quarter, with Wembanyama scoring nine early points while attacking the rim. The Knicks responded strongly in the second, outscoring the Spurs by 18 to take a seven-point half-time lead, before San Antonio seized back control after the break.
Rookie guard Stephon Castle delivered a career-defining night alongside Wembanyama, adding 23 points, five rebounds and five assists. A pivotal Castle three-pointer as the shot clock expired pushed the Spurs ahead 111-104 with 1:53 remaining, draining the noise from the Garden in an instant. De’Aaron Fox then weaved through the paint to sink a mid-range jumper for a 113-108 lead with 12.2 seconds left, and Castle sealed the win from the free-throw line after OG Anunoby’s corner three cut the deficit to two.
Wembanyama and Castle, both aged 22 or younger, became the first pair of teammates in that age bracket to each score 20 or more points in an NBA Finals game. “Victor wasn’t alone,” Johnson said. “Stephon stepped up in a huge way, scoring 23 points and making several critical plays.”
Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points, while Anunoby and Josh Hart also reached double figures. Despite the defeat, the Knicks remain ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series and will host Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, 11 June. The loss ended New York’s 13-game post-season winning streak, the second-longest in NBA history, behind only the 2017 Golden State Warriors’ run of 15.
Wembanyama acknowledged the significance after the buzzer. “We had our backs against the wall,” he said. “We knew we couldn’t go down 3-0. We just wanted to come in, play hard and get one on the road.”
The Spurs’ victory was their first of the series and Wembanyama’s first career win at Madison Square Garden. San Antonio held the Knicks under 30 points in three of four quarters and forced key stops late, with Wembanyama altering multiple shots in the closing minutes.
President Donald Trump attended the game, the first sitting US president to do so at an NBA Finals. His presence required heightened security, with the NYPD setting up a broad perimeter around the arena and ticket-holding fans waiting over two hours to enter. He was booed when shown on the jumbotron, seated alongside Knicks owner James Dolan.
The Spurs now trail 2-1 with momentum shifted. “This completely changes the Finals,” Johnson said. “We are still in tremendous shape, but these Spurs proved they are far too talented to count out.”
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