Spurs halt Knicks’ historic streak as Castle delivers in NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs avoided elimination in the NBA Finals on Monday night, securing a 115-111 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The win reduces the series deficit to 2-1, preventing San Antonio from falling into a 3-0 hole—a scenario from which no NBA team has ever recovered. The result also ends the Knicks’ 46-game unbeaten streak spanning the regular season and playoffs.

Spurs guard Stephon Castle delivered a critical performance in the final minutes, hitting a crucial three-point shot and sinking two decisive free throws with 6.8 seconds remaining to preserve a narrow lead. Castle finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists, shooting 8 of 14 from the field and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. His playoff free-throw percentage has improved to 81.1 per cent, up from 73.4 per cent during the regular season.

Castle’s teammate, Victor Wembanyama, contributed 32 points to the victory. The duo became the first teammates aged 22 or younger in NBA history to both score 20 or more points in an NBA Finals game. De’Aaron Fox also played a pivotal role, hitting the biggest shot of his career in the fourth quarter to help stabilise the Spurs’ offence.

The match was marked by the historic attendance of US President Donald Trump, marking the first time a sitting US president has attended an NBA Finals game. His presence triggered significant security protocols and resulted in a divided reception from the crowd, with sections of the audience booing loudly when he appeared on video screens.

Prior to this defeat, the Knicks held a 2-0 series lead after sweeping the first two games. The Spurs’ resilience in Game 3 suggests a young core capable of sustaining pressure, with Castle emerging as a key two-way force alongside Wembanyama. The series now shifts to Game 4, with the Spurs having avoided the brink of elimination.