NEW YORK — The New York Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak ended with a 115-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists as San Antonio cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1, according to game reports. Jalen Brunson scored 32 points for the Knicks in the defeat.
The Knicks had won their first 13 postseason games, a streak that began after a loss in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on April 23. The run included victories over multiple opponents en route to the Finals and stood as the second-longest single-postseason winning streak in NBA history behind the Golden State Warriors’ 15-game streak in 2017.
The Spurs, who trailed 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after close losses in Games 1 and 2 in San Antonio, responded with a strong performance in New York. Wembanyama’s play was central to snapping the streak, while Stephon Castle added 23 points for San Antonio.
New York had been dominant throughout the playoffs, winning by large margins in many games and demonstrating resilience in come-from-behind victories. The loss on Monday marked the team’s first defeat in 46 days.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game that his team would focus on responding in Game 4. “They played hard, we played hard,” Thibodeau was quoted as saying in postgame coverage. “We’ve got to be better.”
The Spurs improved their road record in the postseason with the victory. Both teams combined for a high-scoring affair that featured several lead changes in the fourth quarter.
The series now shifts to Game 4 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, with the Knicks still holding a 2-1 advantage. Further details on injury status and adjustments for both teams were not immediately available beyond standard postgame reports.
As of June 10, attention turns to how the Knicks rebound from the end of their historic streak and whether the Spurs can build on their Game 3 momentum.
