Tagbilaran City, Bohol – French phenom Victor Wembanyama stuffed the stats sheet to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 NBA Finals Game 3 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night (Tuesday morning, Philippine time) at the Madison Square Garden Arena in New York City, NY. The reigning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and Western Conference Finals MVP finished with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, as the Spurs cut New York’s series lead to 2-1.
Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox made clutch baskets down the stretch to provide cushion and prevent another Knicks comeback, as well as a 3-0 hole going into Game 4. Castle had 23 markers, 5 boards, 5 dimes, 1 steal, and 1 block, while Fox added 12 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks for San Antonio.
Filipino-American rookie guard Dylan Harper provided the usual spark off-the-bench with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Spurs.
OG Anunoby finished with 28 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 blocks for New York, who saw their 13-game postseason winning streak snapped. Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 and 11, respectively for the Knicks. Mikal Bridges, who had 20 points and 4 treys in Game 2, only scored 2 points in Game 3 on 1-for-5 field goal shooting, including 0-for-3 from deep.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson provided valuable minutes for the Knicks, off-the-bench and finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal in just a little over 13 minutes of action.
United States President Donald Trump was in attendance for Game 3. He became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals Game.
Crucial Game 4 is scheduled on Wednesday night (Thursday morning, Philippine time) still at the Madison Square Garden Arena in New York City, home of the Knicks..
How They Scored: 33-22; 57-64; 92-91; 115-111
Spurs 115 – Wembanyama 32, Castle 23, Harper 13, Fox 12, Champagnie 12, Vassell 11, Johnson 7, Bryant 3, Kornet 2
Knicks 111 – Brunson 32, Anunoby 28, Hart 16, Towns 11, Clarkson 10, Robinson 5, Alvarado 4, Shame 3, Bridges 2
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