Why did Spurs beat Knicks Game 3?

Spurs’ Game 3 win flipped the NBA Finals

San Antonio’s 115-111 victory over New York in Game 3 ended the Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak and pulled the best-of-seven series to 2-1 in favor of New York.

What changed on the court

Victor Wembanyama delivered a signature performance at Madison Square Garden, finishing with 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, along with three blocks. Multiple writeups emphasized that the Spurs played with improved decision-making late in the game and made fewer costly mistakes than in the first two contests.

Karl-Anthony Towns, one of New York’s key pieces, acknowledged that turnovers and a lack of execution were central problems. The Spurs’ ability to pressure New York in key moments—paired with Wembanyama’s ability to score and create—meant New York couldn’t coast despite still holding a series lead.

The officiating controversy loomed in the background

A major storyline around Game 3 was how differently the fouls and free throws were called. Knicks coach Mike Brown repeatedly criticized what he viewed as lopsided officiating, particularly a large second-half free-throw discrepancy (with San Antonio shooting 24 free throws in the second half compared to New York’s eight, according to the articles). Brown insisted it wasn’t the deciding factor alone, but he argued the imbalance affected New York’s ability to close the game.

Why it matters

The win matters because it stops the Knicks from taking a commanding 3-0 lead at home and reopens the series. It also raises the urgency for New York to fix turnover and execution issues—and for San Antonio to build momentum around Wembanyama’s high-impact performances as the Finals shift deeper into a must-win environment.