Wembanyama anchors Spurs past Knicks, secures crucial first NBA Finals win

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

And Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama answered the call, dropping 32 points and eight rebounds to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 115–111 victory over the New York Knicks to get on the board in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, June 9.

NBA teams are 0–160 all-time in the playoffs after falling into an 0–3 hole, and the Spurs knew they could not afford to dig themselves deeper.

Spurs veteran guard De’Aaron Fox buried the dagger mid-range jumper over Knicks forward OG Anunoby with 12 seconds remaining to put San Antonio up by two possessions and seal the win.

The 27-year-old guard ended the night with 12 points and eight assists as Stephon Castle posted 23 points with timely baskets to pace the Spurs throughout the game.

In a postgame interview, Wembanyama stressed the importance of committing fewer mistakes and asserting more control to secure the victory.

When the center was asked about the team’s confidence about winning, he said, “Nothing really, we are all the time confident. Did what we were supposed to do, the job is not done and we’re not even halfway.”

Earlier, the Spurs came out firing as Wembanyama set the tone on both ends of the floor, helping San Antonio build a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter.

But New York responded by outscoring San Antonio 42–24 in the second frame to nab the lead at halftime and maintain it for most of the third period until Castle and Fil-Am rookie Dylan Harper led a Spurs run to regain control.

Despite Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson’s 12-point eruption in the final quarter, the Spurs clung to their lead behind the elite rebounding by their guards.

Brunson finished with 32 points and five assists, OG Anunoby delivered his best game of the finals with 28 points. Josh Hart also recorded his best finals outing with 16 markers on four made threes.

In all three games in these NBA 2026 finals, the road team has emerged victorious, and the Spurs will look to continue that trend when they face the Knicks in Game 4, June 11.