The Spurs Forced 13 Knicks Turnovers and Earned a Must-Win Road Victory at Madison Square Garden
V-Dub became the second youngest player behind Magic Johnson to have 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a Finals game as the Spurs extended their season outlasting the Knicks 115-111 in Game 3.
The Silver and Black entered Game 3 with their backs against the wall on the road at Madison Square Garden down 0-2. How would the young team respond? Defense.
Spurs Trailed at Half
Despite leading by 11 after the first quarter, the Spurs trailed 64-57 at the half. The team buckled down in the second half and outscored the home team Knicks 58-47 in the second half to bring the series to a respectable 2-1 lead for the Knicks.
The team seemed to have learned from its late Game 2 errors by taking much better care of the ball committing only eight turnovers, while forcing 13 Knick giveaways. The Spurs scored 21 points off of those Knick miscues.
V-Dub finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three blocks to lead the Spurs. He was an efficient 11-for-18 from the field and 2-for-4 from three. He was also 8-for-9 from the charity stripe.
The supporting cast for the Spurs stepped up big in what was a must-win game. Excluding V-Dub, the team had five other players score in double figures. For the first time in the series the Spurs reserves outscored their Knick counterparts, 25-22.
The Stats
Stephon Castle had his best game of the series finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Rookie sensation Dylan Harper; the Spurs franchise leader in postseason points by a rookie, had 13 points and nine rebounds. Julian Champagnie and De’Aaron Fox each added 12 while Devin Vassell chipped in 11.
The loss for the Knicks snaps their remarkable postseason run of 13 consecutive postseason wins. It is their first loss since April 23 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
Jalen Brunson lead the Knicks, who for the third straight game trailed the Spurs by at least eight points after the first quarter with 32 points. Stephon Castle was his primary defender and forced the lead guy for the Knicks into 11-for-25 from the floor. He had five assists, five rebounds and more importantly, five turnovers.
OG Anunoby had 28 points for the Knicks on an efficient 9-for-13 from the field with five rebounds. He was also 3-for-7 from three. Josh Hart added 16 points, nine rebounds and, and five assists for the Knicks.
Knicks big man Karl Anthony-Towns was unable to replicate his Games 1 & 2 dominance and finished with a pedestrian 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting and eight rebounds. He was also 0-for-2 from distance.
No Home Court Win for Either Team
The Spurs will look to defy the odds as they head into Game 4. No team has lost the first two games at home in a Finals series and prevailed. To date, neither team has held serve on their home floor in this series.
At least there will be a Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center.
