The San Antonio Spurs got their first win in the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks in the third game and thus prevented a possible preliminary decision.
The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, won game three in New York’s Madison Square Garden with 115:111 on Monday evening (local time) and reduced the deficit in the final series to 1:2.
For the Spurs it was already a “must-win game”, another defeat and a 0:3 deficit in the final series would have meant the preliminary decision, in NBA history no team has ever turned around a 0:3 deficit in the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks last made up a 0-2 deficit in the NBA Finals in 2021.
However, the advantage still lies with the Knicks, the New Yorkers started the finals with two away wins. As the third team ever after the Chicago Bulls (1993) and the Houston Rockets (1995), both of them went on to win the title. Game four of the final series will take place again in New York,
Spurs withstand pressure
In game three, San Antonio withstood the great pressure – also because superstar Wembanyama, who was successfully limited by the Knicks defense around Karl-Anthony Towns in the first two games, finally made it to the final series: The Frenchman had a strong 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.
This time the Knicks’ offense faltered, with regular shooters Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby not getting enough support from the bench. In a close match, the Spurs ultimately prevailed and at the same time ended the Knicks’ streak of 13 consecutive wins in the playoffs.
Boos against Trump at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks’ first final home game in 27 years was also marked by the visit of Donald Trump, who was the first sitting US president to attend an NBA game. There were tightened security measures at the game, and a large area around the arena in Manhattan was cordoned off. The fact that the popular “Watch Party” in front of the Garden was canceled caused a lot of discontent among New Yorkers.
When Trump, who was watching the game from a box, was seen on the video screens in the arena during the national anthem, boos rained down. As the motorcade carrying the president drove to Madison Square Garden, some demonstrators on the side of the road held up signs reading “Trump must go.”