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2026 NBA Playoffs NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 – Lockdown Time

The Knicks return home with a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. There is a lot being said about the fact that no team has ever won the first two games on the road and lost the series. That’s true, but at the same time, it’s only happened TWICE before this season, as most of the time, the home team is just flat out the better team.

That’s not the case this time, as the change to the Knicks in Game 3 altered the DNA of this Knicks team, and made them a much better team than the Spurs. So it just plain ol’ made sense that the Knicks beat this Spurs team.

The 1995 Rockets and the 1993 Bulls were better than the 1995 Magic and 1993 Suns. So this is just normal that the Knicks are up 2-0.

So now they just have to lock this series down by winning this game and make the rest of this Finals academic.

Let’s go, Knicks!

Just two more wins to go!

I’m on the scene to watch them win fourteen (in a row)!

496 replies on “2026 NBA Playoffs NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs Game 3 – Lockdown Time”

Donte’s presence negates Trump’s.

Wear them down with competence. Win going away.

Let’s fucking go.

Wear them down with competence. Win going away.

That’s 100% what happened to them in the first two games.

The Knicks just kept their cool, and the Spurs very much did NOT.

And that’s what will happen tonight, as well.

I can’t believe that you and I both wanted to say Knicks in 4, but couldn’t bring us to go there, and yet, we should have, I guess!

1

Win tonight and it’s just about over.

Lose tonight and game 4 will be a war. I’m in no mood for war.

I am so fucking nervous! A great beginning will go a long way to calm my nerves but I trust these guys through and through!

I just took a Xanax.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue

1

I just took a Xanax. I had to do it.

I hope you brought enough to share with the rest of the class.

1

Oh shit Eli Manning is also at the game, NY sports royalty all coming together!

1

I don’t normally watch the pregame. Has this National Anthem singer performed there a lot? If so, then that’s awesome, I like sticking with regulars. If not, weird choice (he was excellent, but it’s New York, you could get any of the most famous singers in the world to sing it).

1

Dick move to show Trump for the first time during the fucking National Anthem, so you’re daring people to boo the National Anthem (they still did).

2

I’m in Vegas for this College Sports Communicators national convention. Just got done with my sessions, was able to trek back to my room, change out of my work clothes into my Knick gear, and find a restaurant with the game on… along with a Monday happy hour deal.

Okay they showed Trump and I heard boos. Okay let that be that, and focus on ball.

1

Well, that guy has pipes

he’s sung the anthem at every home game these playoffs I think… he saved a little something extra for the Finals

1

Yeah, that is one hell of a singer. As a former musician, speaking with my (other) sister, an opera singer, watching the game, that’s just 8000% times better than that poor mediocre girl singing for the Spurs games

1

This team is going to show the world tonight that we are the Champions!

When did Richard Jefferson get to become such a big Knick fan? It’s nice, but weird.

Knicks the bigger dragon with normal music for the Spurs. Good for them.

It’s hilarious that it took three games for Mitch Johnson to say, “Hey, maybe Wemby should play near the basket.”

HART!!

Interesting how little they go at OG…we may need to change his assignment

Also, did Castle travel there?

This happens each game. The Spurs start quick, and the Knicks just break them down slowly but surely as the game goes along.

So the experienced team is totally out of sorts.

The experienced team always starts slow, what matters is how it ends.

Honestly, Hart with two threes so far makes me a lot less worried about this early deficit

Human psychology hard to beat, our guys are too hyped and wound toght. And spurs playing loose and focused

Not exactly the start we needed. I think everyone’s nerves are on edge except for Hart weirdly.

I agree Brian. As long as we stay within range until Wemby sits.

And I noticed last game in the first half that the Knicks got cooking when he sat and didn’t really slow down when he came back into the game.

Their D is overwhelming, the refs announced that it’s open season on Knicks’ ballhandlers, Castle can make a shot, Wemby is playing close to the basket, and Harper hasn’t even come in yet.

Inauspicious start.

But maybe they’re peaking early.

And I noticed last game in the first half that the Knicks got cooking when he sat and didn’t really slow down when he came back into the game.

The turning point in Game 1 was Wemby’s knee getting hurt, and they dominated with him out of the game, and didn’t stop when he returned.

If they don’t miss any shots this could be the tough

Wemby is a piece of shit

Okay, Wemby out (who apparently just flagrantly fouled Brunson).

A Hart three over Kornet is probably not a good idea.

If KAT was as physical with Wemby as Johnson is with KAT he’d have 5 fouls

Always trust Fox to take a bad shot. Any time he doesn’t go to the basket, you know it is a good thing.

Any time a Spur gets to the rim and decides to take a mini-jumper is a huge blessing for the Knicks.

Wembanyama is actually so dirty

3

Did everyone miss that flagarant by Wemby on Brunson?????? Unbelievable

1

Just for the record, Wemby is a scumbag that doesn’t deserve fan adulation.

Did everyone miss that flagarant by Wemby on Brunson?????? Unbelievable

And I think he smiled at Brunson right after.

Wemby laughed in Brunson’s face after flagrantly fouling him JB must have some discipline because I would’ve clocked him

I’m sitting next to an OKC fan here and he said Wemby was pushing people like that in their series. Like, cmon son.

Hart gets a tech for that but Wemby is allowed to shove Brunson in the head.

FUCK THESE REFS/

The Spurs young players remind me of guys whose coach tells them repeatedly to do one thing, and when the game starts, they follow those instructions, but as the game goes along, they start to forget the instructions.

Johnson clearly told them to go the hoop, and now they’re stopping that. Which is great for the Knicks.

ABC should be replaying the hit on Brunson, too. Announcers caught it. Show it again.

Can’t believe I missed the Wemby-Brunson thing. On the replay I was watching Johnson actually punch KAT in the face.

Brian, how are you 10 seconds ahead of me? I looked, it says I’m live…

What “response,” Breen? They had early leads in every game!

We can bitch about the refs all we want but right now the Spurs are physically manhandling and punking the Knicks.

Brian, how are you 10 seconds ahead of me? I looked, it says I’m live…

Weird, no idea.

OG is gonna need a big game if we want a chance tonight

So I guess I was right about this game being even more rigged than the last

We can bitch about the refs all we want but right now the Spurs are physically manhandling and punking the Knicks.

The two things are connected though.

We can bitch about the refs all we want but right now the Spurs are physically manhandling and punking the Knicks.

No shit, dude. That’s WHY we’re bitching about the refs

2

Spurs getting away with moving screens…

Adam Silver should be getting booed along with Trump

Wemby seriously almost threw another pass to a teammate’s back.

1

They’re not playing physical, they’re fucking playing another sport, this is UFC

The Brunson hero ball is really dumb right now. Let him sit and cool off

Brunson needs to figure this out. He’s probably mad at the refs, but is forcing too much stuff.

Lousy quarter, but it’s OK.

Not the optimal last-second shot by Wemby tho

Brunson endless dribbling and hero ball isn’t helping our assist numbers.

Brunson has that good D1 guard who just arrived in the NBA feel right now

They have to cool off

Brunson is forcing it and needs to take a seat. Super charged bench and KAT need to bring us back

No movement; no passing; no KAT. This may as well be Thibs’s offense. Wake up, boys.

The last game felt rigged; this game just feels like the Spurs are getting away with stuff when the refs are looking the other way

I really don’t get some of these Brunson iso-plays. It’s like he feels he needs to prove he can score over anyone.

1

Carter Bryant is basically playing himself out of this series.

Also no movement off the ball. Nobody moving or cutting.

OG is playing so headily

There you go, OG – these guys are playing so aggressively, you just have to bait them and you’ll get something out of it

I’m sorry for all the shit I talked about OKC, the way they play defense makes me want to see every player exaggerate contact and flop everytime against this team.

I agree with Bruno

And Mike Breen needs to step the fuck up and start calling this shit what it is.

I’m sorry for all the shit I talked about OKC, the way they play defense makes me want to see every player exaggerate contact and flop everytime against this team.

OKC plays defense like this too.

I don’t mind that foul by Shamet there. Don’t give Castle anything easy inside the paint

1

I really don’t get some of these Brunson iso-plays. It’s like he feels he needs to prove he can score over anyone.

When he gets into that mode we typically lose. That’s what I’ve been complaining about all season. There’s a time for that, but it’s not what you want as a primary option.

Alvarado with such a smart play knowing Wemby was expecting a drive

I didn’t have “Alvarado will be the more efficient PG” in my bingo card.

1

FUCK THE SPURS

1

Every time Alvarado comes in we reel off an 8-0 run or something

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I was pretty much insanely confident that the Spurs would eventually fall apart.

1

Alvarado playing fast as opposed to Brunson’s methodical/slow buildup makes a huge difference against this defense.

1

Brunson needs to see how Alvarado is playing…wow

Boriqua!!!!

1

They are shooting 60%, including 50% from 3, and the Knicks are down 2?

SIGN ME UP

The Spurs are so keyed into Brunson that they’re not ready for the change of pace that Alvie and Clarkson offered.

1

I really don’t get some of these Brunson iso-plays. It’s like he feels he needs to prove he can score over anyone.

This is absolutely right. And his dad needs to shout at him if Brown won’t.

I turn league pass on at 11 down. 2 minutes later and it’s 2 down. And I didn’t even know I had this power.

Every time Towns isos Kornet I hear the Halloween theme music

Clarkson has done his duty, get him out.

Should have listened to me.

Way to kill the momentum and get a foul on KAT. UGH.

ah, KAT, so dumb there

ah, Clarkson, we so want to root for you, keep your head

There were so many bad things about that Clarkson turnover but the worst might have been it got KAT a foul

The Jordan Clarkson game??

It’s hilarious how much better the Spurs look when they go to the rim.

Too many points in the paint – make them jump shooters

Brown needs to play a center cuz it’s clear no rim protection will have the Spurs guards going to the paint all the time

Not entirely sure why we haven’t tried double big against this team, any ideas?

The Spurs can’t sustain that Q1 defensive energy for the whole game. All of a sudden it got a lot easier for us to make passes and get to spots on the floor

If we lose this series its going to be because of that Clarkson turnover.

I literally ran out of the room screaming

Too many points in the paint – make them jump shooters

And the key thing is that these morons WANT to be jump shooters, so it should be easy to get them to do that.

Castle… that’s your halftime adjustment. Guards gotta keep him from getting all the way to the rack.

Alternatively, maybe they collapse on him when he commits to the drive. But do you want him to risk finding the open man even though he’s not a great passer (yet)?

Brian Cronin cool as a cucumber

Hard not to be with these Knicks and these Spurs!

If we lose this series its going to be because of that Clarkson turnover.

I literally ran out of the room screaming

I’m going to spend an extra year in purgatory for my reaction.

Oh, is this the latest “Oh man, Brunson is hurt…oh, wait, no, he isn’t” moment?

Oh, come on, it’s obviously not a fucking flagrant. You morons.

The fact that I already hate Wemby and he’s only 22 means I have a lot of years of hell in front of me.

Kinda think that’s a flop

Not a flop, but he was absolutely trying to draw a charge.

Spurs becoming dirtier and dirtier as this series advances. At least the refs are hearing it from the crowd tonight.

2

Castle with the forearm shiver to the strenum. Harry Carson would be proud.

The Spurs are so sloppy. It’s why the Knicks will win this going away.

Fucking Spurs probably watch video on how to foul when the refs aren’t looking

1

And this is a the second game where Wemby threw a Knicks guard down with no call.

Let’s fucking go!!!

Josh Hart

Jalen Brunson

OG Anunoby

KAT

Mikal Bridges

YOUR NEW YORK KNICKS!

I told you over and over again, just give them time, the Spurs will just do stupid shit, and the Knicks will capitalize.

We just went on one of those will destroying peak gsw type runs

The Knicks are playing like they spent their time off before this series in a Buddhist monastery

1

I think they’ve started to figure out their defense with Wemby in the corners.

42 point quarter.

It’s pretty obvious. The Spurs, when things get tight, stop going to the rim, and instead take moronic shots like that last Wemby attempt.

The Knicks then get the rebound off of those terrible misses, and drive up court and score.

This fucking team, man.

On pace to meet Hubie’s request for a 14 point win.

Considering the circumstances that had to be the best quarter of the season.

2

Hit them with 50 in the third and take their hearts out. I want fucking blood from these dirty pieces of shit.

4

Great half. Now we’ll start slow again, that’s how this team works. But what matters is how it ends.

Brunson woke up after getting ran over, OG might be my favorite Knick in a very very long time, Hart is doing his thing and the defense is showing up

Huge “thank you” to Alvy for righting the ship. OG? What can we say. Josh coming through. Now let’s get Mikal his and ride KAT a bit more.

Spurs don’t shoot or execute well enough to stanch Knick runs. Story of the series. Wouldn’t expect it to change.

I must have given up on this game 9 times already. So, it’s a good thing I’m not a player because these Knicks don’t have any quit in them. To take the Spurs hot start, after we got off to a terrible one, and end the half with a 7 point lead after a 42 point quarter? God damn I love this team

1

I don’t think we played like shit at all.

We expected a basketball game, the refs let the spurs make it a rugby game, and we adjusted after a quarter

The start of the game we looked nervous, passive, and downright bad. But this is a fucking magical team with cajones.

Wow. We gotta step on their throat and not even give them any chance to come back.

Guys guys, OG is still overpaid. Let’s not go crazy here.

Although I didn’t see this offensive leap coming, I must admit.

He’s still no RJ though

2

I seem to recall one of the announcers last game saying the Knicks haven’t lost a 3rd quarter all playoffs. Is that true? If so, I’m feeling good about the rest of the night.

The Knicks are playing like they spent their time off before this series in a Buddhist monastery

lol

We looked more stressed than the Spurs to start and played clueless defense. As defense started improving in the second quarter, so did our offense. A 42 point second quarter took care of the halftime score. The momentum is on our side but we need to play consistent defense in the second half. The Spurs got way too many open shots and easy drives.

I can’t believe the league is trying to make Wemby. I’ve never seen a more phony, dirty, entitled, despicable athlete. And he’s fucking French.

4

They had a super hot start so we weren’t ever getting transition buckets or quick run outs after misses, then they can play rugby and stall our half court offense. As soon as we locked in on d and they started missing some shots the game opens up again.

1

everyone on earth treats wemby like godzilla except og anunoby who just drives by insouciantly like he’s passing one of those floppy car dealerships air dancers

6

Spurs don’t know how to take a beat and reset themselves. They get tilted and start rushing everything, throwing up shots on the first drive each possession.

everyone on earth treats wemby like godzilla except og anunoby who just drives by insouciantly like he’s passing one of those floppy car dealerships air dancers

💯

The Spurs need to have the turbo button mashed the entire time to give us trouble. When that turbo bar runs down to zero they start having problems.

“I grew up in a very small town in New Jersey, one that’s home to about 10,000 people. I knew my neighbors. Hell, everyone knew most people in town. In my junior year of college, my parents moved to a different part of the state, so by the time I came back to Jersey for Thanksgiving my senior year I had to drive about 50 minutes north to hang out with my friends, many of whom I’m still close with to this day, by the way. ”

@Robert Silverman: You perfectly described my hometown of Freehold, New Jersey.

Did I get it right?

Jordan a plus 10 too. With the worst turnover in history other than the backfumble.

How the hell are these idiots calling this a wrap? Only Cronin is allowed to do that, apparently

1

Looking at the Wemby shove again – he pushed Brunson by the back of the neck. Fucking psycho.

1

““42 pt quarter highest in Knicks playoff history.””

Even after what we did to the Hawks and Sixers in those crazy blowouts?

Nope. We led the Sixers 43-24 after the first quarter of our Game 4 closeout game. We also had 41 in two quarters this season. Wow!

everyone on earth treats wemby like godzilla except og anunoby who just drives by insouciantly like he’s passing one of those floppy car dealerships air dancers

And (I think) it’s always there.

Wemby is actually unstoppable when he just rim runs every play idk why he bothers isoing and fading and all this other shit

1

The Spurs need to have the turbo button mashed the entire time to give us trouble. When that turbo bar runs down to zero they start having problems.

Yeah. Their rotations were a millisecond slower in the second quarter, which is the time the Knicks need to do what they need to do.

Knicks were also more decisive and fast.

That was Clarkson’s first 3 in the last 90 days months (don’t look it up just trust me, it’s true even if it never really happened)

1

Even after what we did to the Hawks and Sixers in those crazy blowouts?

Must be finals history. They had 43 against the Hawks in Game 6.

That was Clarkson’s first 3 in the last 90 days months (don’t look it up, just trust me)

He hit one against the Cavs!

Feels like when shit ain’t going their way, our boys hand around and hang around and just probe for their opportunity to clap back.

I don’t think we played like shit at all.

They were definitely feeling the heat early and that allowed SA to jump out to that lead. There were some bad TOs. But they slowly righted the ship with clutch shots from Alvarado and OG and then everyone loosened up.

““42 pt quarter highest in Knicks playoff history.””

Even after what we did to the Hawks and Sixers in those crazy blowouts?

Nice catch. 43 v Hawks and v 76-ers. Maybe he said “Finals” (or was wrong).

The thing that the Knicks didn’t do after the Wemby shoves on Alvarado and Brunson is to make a fuss about it to force the refs to stop play and review it. You have to do it.

Looking at the Wemby shove again – he pushed Brunson by the back of the neck. Fucking psycho.

I should probably cut him some slack because he’s young, but as of now he’s a clear cut dirty arrogant scumbag.

0

@Robert Silverman: You perfectly described my hometown of Freehold, New Jersey.

Used to live on Brinckerhoff Ave.

I should probably cut him some slack because he’s young, but as of now he’s a clear cut scumbag,

There was also the shove of Mitch last game. Pretty sure Wemby ended up moving backward.

1

Spurs don’t know how to take a beat and reset themselves. They get tilted and start rushing everything, throwing up shots on the first drive each possession.

Exactly. Mitch Johnson’s obviously one of those smart coaches who can come up with great plans before the game, but then halfway through the game, his idiot players forget all of his great plans, and the game is lost on him. That’s why he should be calling more timeouts.

How the hell are these idiots calling this a wrap? Only Cronin is allowed to do that, apparently

I told my wife, “See, Charles Barkley sees what I see!”

Exactly. Mitch Johnson’s obviously one of those smart coaches who can come up with great plans before the game, but then halfway through the game, his idiot players forget all of his great plans, and the game is lost on him. That’s why he should be calling more timeouts.

As the military saying goes, no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

If Wemby is Godzilla are the Knicks Mecha Godzilla or Mothra?

King Ghidorah but with 6 heads, one for each starter and a bonus one for Landry

I wish we had an enforcer type big man on this team that would be willing to clothesline Wemby a few times.

1

“BrunsonPeroneusLongus says:
June 8, 2026 at 22:03
@Robert Silverman: You perfectly described my hometown of Freehold, New Jersey.

Used to live on Brinckerhoff Ave.”

Holy. Shit.

I lived on Stokes. Went to Court Street Elementary, Freehold Intermediate, and Freehold Borough High (class of ’82).

Guys, do you really have to start with a TO?

I mean seriously? Are we back to first quarter shit again?

That’s no flagrant foul. Brunson wasn’t even trying to do that.

Are you fucking kidding me???!?

Oh come, he didn’t make his feet go there. He wasn’t even LOOKING!

It’s 5 against the league and referees again. They see our stuff but not theirs.

This is completely crooked. For you to look at that and decide it’s a flagrant is just corrupt

Wait, had he made the first free throw, he wouldn’t have taken the second?

Next they’re gonna pull out a folding chair when the ref isn’t looking and crack Brunson with it

The Spurs stopped going to the rim, the Knicks quickly open up a bigger lead. Mitch Johnson must be so pissed.

Wait, had he made the first free throw, he wouldn’t have taken the second?

Yeah, it’s 2 to make 1 in flagrant after you make a 3.

You know, I get it when you make a bad call in real time. But they are showing their ass with that tech on a review. That is straight up corruption

Yeah, it’s 2 to make 1 in flagrant after you make a 3.

Fascinating.

This is awful stuff from Brunson. What is he doing, it makes no sense?

1

I love Brunson but by the time he makes any pass it doesn’t even get the receiving player in a good spot. Gotta do something else.

1

If Brown wasn’t smooth down there like Ken he would pull Brunson for Alvarado to send him a message.

The thing is, Wemby can’t play all the minutes. At some point he subs out and we should go on a run.

As great as they played in the 2nd quarter they’re playing equally awful this quarter.

It’s fascinating how the Sixth Man of the Year can barely get on the court because he sucks so much.

Guess Fox doesn’t have the nuts to try that staredown in the Garden, f’n pussy.

This is more like it, Castle just not going strong to the hoop.

Brunson is somehow 7/15 from the field for 20 points but it feels like every time he runs a play we turn the ball over or throw up garbage

11-5 in turnovers is what is keeping the Spurs in the game.

17-5 in points off turnovers.

Let’s see if Alvie and maybe Clarkson have another good shift in them.

KAT has gotten a bit lazy on O. Couple times now he just gave the ball back to Brunson, even though he had a good matchup. Stop deferring.

Having a hard time with these dumbass turnovers

I’d much prefer if they just get their act together and blow these m’fers out

1

Either OG is tired or he pulled up with something before the timeout.

For the love of God please be the former

Stop doing the play where Brunson holds the ball at the half court line for ten seconds

1

I’d much prefer if they just get their act together and blow these m’fers out

Yes. I am not entertained. Haha

If we can keep the lead we’ll get that Alvarado burst at the beginning of the 4th to put it out of reach!

Brunson playing too selfish right now…

It’s on him to change it up

1

I would like a whole lot less of the Brunson-Hart two-man game that ignores everyone else

Don’t like this lineup and Brunson needs to take a sit. He is not playing well

At least the Yankees won tonight…

No, they should have made a sacrifice.

KAT’s just not in this game yet. He needs to wake up.

This has been a great quarter for the spurs

That Keldon Johnson play was the sort of thing that I would pull a guy out of the game instantly if he did that.

We are playing like ass. Credit to San Antonio for taking advantage of it

Brunson’s terrible quarter is why we’re down. Team hasn’t recovered, we’re playing sloppy and disorganized.

OG needs a rest

They’re slightly less crappy this quarter than that first quarter. Just hope our 4th quarter also replicates our 2nd q

Spurs going to the rim is killing the Knicks.

And these assholes would gladly STOP doing that as soon as they have the chance! Mitch Johnson must be pulling his hair out with this team.

It’s a one-point deficit heading to the fourth. So come on, this is the Knicks territory.

Jordan, all is forgiven again.

I feel like our bench guards are our most effective guards right now

That was a great quarter for the spurs.

Seems like we’re just gonna go to Brunson hero ball in the 4th and see if it works

Need to get KAT a 2 minute break here at the beginning of the quarter.

The question is which Brunson we get in the 4th quarter – the selfish one that cost us the lead or the hero that hits big shots?

Neither is a good offense option. We have to move the ball and play strong D

1

League pass must be behind Brian, as Brian wrote “I can’t believe Harper hit that shot.” and on my screen the Spurs were still getting to the other side of the court !?

(Brian, my new hypothesis is that various angry chants by MSG started just before the sound went off for a few seconds, this happened a few times. I might be watching some kind of slight tape delay to avoid the, um, vitriol of Knicks fans from burning America’s ears…)

Harper just straight up bullied KAT on that drive.

Harper could be a real problem in the future. That’s why it is best to abuse this team NOW.

Another 30+ point quarter for the Spurs and a total of 92 points in just three quarters on our own court. Look no further.

I feel like our bench guards are our most effective guards right now

Again, they’re giving the Spurs a different look style wise and it’s helping

The reffing is so fraudulent

Just get Clarkson out of there. WTF Brown? He can’t be trusted in a game like this.

I make fun of Fox a lot (and he deserves it), but I’ll give him this much. I trust him to make clutch free throws. That’s a big deal.

Castle doing anything but going to the rim is just asking for trouble.

Imagine taking these threes with a five-point lead. What an undisciplined, stupid young team.

I’d rather watch Brunson dribble for 20 secs than whatever the hell this shit is right now.

I mean, clean look for Shamet gotta hit that.

Things getting stagnant

These Spurs will do anything but go hard to the rim. Too funny.

The only thing I’m taking away from this is that they’re not winning the game, we’re losing it.

I mean at least we’re slowing the Spurs down. We just need a couple minutes of better shots

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