Spurs cut Knicks' lead to 1:2 in the NBA Finals

Wembanyama leads the Spurs

Wembanyama explained the win on US television by pointing to his team's more controlled style of play: "Wir hatten mehr Kontrolle. Wir haben weniger Fehler gemacht, weniger Ballverluste gehabt. Wir haben besser kommuniziert in der Abwehr und waren früher dran." Looking ahead at the rest of the series, the Frenchman was combative: "Unser Job ist noch längst nicht erledigt, das härteste kommt erst noch."

With the win, the Spurs ended an impressive run by the New Yorkers. The Knicks had previously won 13 consecutive playoff games, with the loss being their first since the end of April. The Texans' victory also prevented a potentially decisive Game 4 in New York, in which the Knicks could have clinched the title in front of their home fans.

Historic situation for both teams

The Knicks have not played for a championship since 1973 and continue to wait for their next NBA title. If the Spurs manage to level the series in the remaining games, they would become the first team ever to come back from a 0:2 deficit in the final series and still win the title.

Prominent visitor at Madison Square Garden

The game was the first NBA Finals game in New York in 27 years, after the Knicks had lost their previous final series. Demand for tickets was enormous; on average, fans paid more than $7,500, according to ESPN. Two courtside tickets were auctioned for a total of one million US dollars (around 866,000 euros), according to the league.

A prominent guest drew attention in the stands. Donald Trump, a long-time Knicks fan, was, according to the league, the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game. During the national anthem, Trump was shown saluting on the video boards, which was met with boos and jeers from the crowd. Trump celebrated his 80th birthday the following Sunday.

From the Spurs' perspective, however, the situation remains difficult. They still trail the series 1:2 and need further wins in the upcoming games to keep their title dream alive. Wembanyama emphasized that the team is already looking ahead to the next game and preparing for the hardest part of the task.