The Spurs react and strike first in New York to fully enter the Finals

There will be no championship celebration in New York this week. The San Antonio Spurs prevented a possible early coronation of the New York Knicks by prevailing 115-111 in the third game of the NBA Finals, reducing the series deficit to 2-1 and shifting pressure back to the New York team.

Just as they had done in the first two games, the Spurs came out strong and built a double-digit lead in the first quarter. This time, however, the great start translated into a victory. San Antonio led by 33-21, but the Knicks responded with a spectacular second quarter, scoring 42 points to head into halftime with a 64-57 advantage.

Far from faltering, the Texan team found their response after the break. With a much more aggressive defense led by Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs limited New York to just 47 points in the entire second half and regained control of the game.

Wembanyama delivers his best performance of the Finals

Following a crucial mistake in the second game that garnered significant media attention, Victor Wembanyama responded with a stellar performance. The young French star led the Spurs with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals, completing his best game of the series.

In addition, Wembanyama managed to outshine Karl-Anthony Towns for the first time in these Finals, who had been one of the key figures in the first two games. The Knicks' center finished with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, in a much quieter performance than usual and lacking the offensive aggressiveness he had shown in San Antonio.

"Less errors and more control. It's about the little details. We were more serious, had fewer turnovers," explained Wembanyama after the game when analyzing the difference compared to the loss suffered in the second game.

Castle shines at the crucial moment

The Knicks didn't stop fighting until the last second. When it seemed like the game was slipping away from them, Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby staged a late comeback that shook the visitors.

However, Stephon Castle had the necessary composure to support the Spurs. The young shooting guard scored a crucial three-pointer as the shot clock was about to expire, making it 111-104 with less than two minutes left. After Brunson and Anunoby kept New York in the game, Castle sealed the victory from the free-throw line.

The rookie delivered an outstanding performance with 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, a steal, and a block, becoming one of the key figures of the night alongside Wembanyama.

Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, although he also committed five turnovers. Anunoby contributed 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks with great shooting efficiency, while Josh Hart added 16 points with an impressive 4 of 7 from three-point range.

The victory represents a redemption for both Wembanyama and Castle, who were involuntarily involved in the play that decided the second game. Furthermore, the Spurs took much better care of the ball, finishing the game with only eight turnovers compared to the Knicks' thirteen.

With this win, San Antonio ends New York's 13-game winning streak in these playoffs and ensures that the series will return to Texas for a fifth game. What seemed like a final headed for a sweep is now wide open once again.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Los Spurs reaccionan y golpean primero en Nueva York para meterse de lleno en las Finales