It is time to party like it is 2014 in San Antonio, at least for about 24 hours.
Victor Wembanyama responded to critics with a 32-point, 8 rebound, 3 block performance, as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 in Game Three of the NBA Finals on Monday night.
The Spurs started aflame and kept it rolling. San Antonio opened the game on a 7-0 run and stretched that lead to eleven through most of the quarter. Dylan Harper kept the energy up with a monstrous dunk.
The Spurs could not miss in the first quarter, shooting 61-percent from the floor and went 4-for-7 from deep, also forcing the Knicks into four turnovers. The Spurs held an eleven-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The Spurs opened the second period maintaining a ten-point lead, but the Knicks would storm back in a furry, going on an 8-0 run to cut the Spurs lead to one possession. But Stephon Castle had something to say about that.
Castle scored 11 of his 23 points in the second quarter alone. San Antonio would push back in front by five, but the Knicks then went on a 17-7 run to close out the half, leading 64-57 at halftime.
After opening the game on a hot stretch, the Spurs cooled off a bit in the second quarter, ending the half shooting 54-percent from the floor and 6-for-15 from behind the arc.
The Spurs stormed out of the gate to open the third quarter, eventually taking the lead back just over four minutes into the frame. The two exchanged punches down the streth in the third, with the Spurs never leading by more than five. Julian Champagnie would bury one of his three shots from deep to keep the Spurs above water.
Another late three from Harper would push San Antonio ahead 92-91 heading to the fourth quarter.
The Spurs continue pushing ahead, taking a seven-point advantage midway through the final period. The Knicks would try their best to cut into the lead, but San Antonio would keep the Knicks at bay, with Wembanyama helping stop the momentum.
Then, Castle stepped into the spotlight and delivered another clutch three that put the Spurs up by seven. The Knicks made it interesting, hitting a three that cut the lead to one possession with 30 seconds remaining. Then, De'Aaron Fox came up with his biggest bucket of the postseason, sinking a floater in the lane to push the Spurs ahead 113-108.
The Knicks would hit a three to cut it back to a two-point game, but Castle would nail two free throws with six seconds left to ice the game.
Things went much better shooting wise for the Spurs in Game Three, as they finished going 46-percent from the floor and shot 12-for-34 from three. San Antonio also kept the turnovers, which have been a problem all playoffs, to a minimum. The Spurs committed just eight turnovers and forced the Knicks into 12 turnovers of their own, scoring 21 points off the New York miscues.
Wembanyama's 32 point night, along with the 23 points from Castle, was the key for the Spurs. Harper added another 13 points off the bench with nine rebounds.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32 points on the night, while OG Anunoby added another 28 for New York.
It is the first NBA Finals win for the Spurs since 2014. The Knicks now lead the series 2-1. Game Four is set for Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images