NBA Finals: Spurs go into attack mode to top Knicks in Game 3

The Knicks host Game 4 on Wednesday.

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026 - 08:18

Amy Tennery

San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said his team went into attack mode in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday as ‌they beat the Knicks 115-111 to trim New York's lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

The game felt like a must-win for San Antonio, who dropped the first two at home and faced a hostile crowd in New York, where Knicks fans emptied out their ⁠wallets for tickets to their first home NBA Finals game in 27 years.

San Antonio rose to the occasion, with their 7-foot 4-inch superstar Victor Wembanyama leading the way with 32 points to end New York's 13-game postseason win streak.

"We showed better poise at times. I thought we finished the game still with some things that need improvement, but stronger than we did the last (two) games," Johnson told reporters. "We were in attack mode."

After a ‌costly ⁠error from Wembanyama helped New York to a 105-104 win in Game 2, the Frenchman earned snickers from some corners of social media after escaping the Midtown media circus with his sketchbook to draw statues in a local park.

But the ⁠artistic pursuit paid off as the 22-year-old kept his cool and guided his team back from the Knicks' 42-point second quarter.

"(I) really tried to relax," he told reporters. "It's ⁠hard to put your head out of the water. Sometimes I don't even got to watch the game back right away. I need ⁠some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind."

The Knicks host Game 4 on Wednesday.