Spurs rally past Knicks to narrow NBA Finals lead

Victor Wembanyama posted 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 on Monday night, reducing the Knicks' lead in the NBA Finals to 2-1. The win ended the Knicks' 13-game postseason winning streak, the second-longest in NBA playoff history, and gave the Spurs a chance to tie the series in Game 4.

Stephon Castle contributed 23 points for San Antonio, while the Knicks relied on Jalen Brunson's 32 points and OG Anunoby's 28, but could not overcome the Spurs' late surge. The game marked the first NBA Finals contest at Madison Square Garden since 1999 and was attended by a crowd that included President Donald Trump.

"Wembanyama didn't make many mistakes Monday and had 10 points in the final quarter," a Spurs spokesperson said.

The Spurs opened strong, establishing a double-digit lead early and shooting nine of their first 11 attempts. The Knicks rallied in the second quarter to take a 64-57 halftime lead, but San Antonio regained momentum in the third quarter and held a 111-104 advantage late in the fourth. Castle sealed the win with two free throws in the final seconds after an Anunoby three-pointer narrowed the gap.

The victory prevents the Spurs from falling into a 3-0 deficit, a series position no team has ever recovered from, and guarantees them another home game in the series, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday.