Spurs narrow Knicks’ series lead to 2-1 with Wembanyama’s interior dominance
The San Antonio Spurs reduced the New York Knicks’ advantage to one game following Game 3, driven by a strategic shift toward the paint and creative offensive schemes designed by head coach Mitch Johnson.
Victor Wembanyama delivered a decisive performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, scoring 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting to secure a victory for the San Antonio Spurs over the New York Knicks. The win reduced the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1, with the matchup set to move to Game 4 on Wednesday. Wembanyama’s efficiency was anchored by a significant shift in shot distribution, with 13 of his 18 attempts coming from inside the paint, a marked departure from the first two games where his attempts were more evenly split between the interior and perimeter.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson employed a series of creative offensive schemes to facilitate Wembanyama’s access to the rim, targeting perceived fatigue in Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns. Analysts noted that Towns has scored zero points in the fourth quarter throughout the series, suggesting that the physical toll of defending Wembanyama in low spots may be impacting his effectiveness. The Spurs utilised ball screens, back screens, and double-drag sets to isolate Wembanyama against single defenders, effectively bypassing the Knicks’ defensive structure.
The tactical adjustments resulted in multiple high-percentage scoring opportunities, including alley-oops and easy dunks, particularly when the Knicks played without a traditional centre or when help defence was unavailable. By using Wembanyama as a screener and employing back screens from players such as Julian Champagnie, the Spurs created clear paths to the basket. This approach allowed Wembanyama to impose his physical advantage, with his effective field goal percentage rising in correlation with his decreased average shot distance.
The series narrative has been punctuated by off-court incidents, including a disruption during Game 1 at Frost Bank Center, where a fan ran onto the court to attempt a selfie with Wembanyama, causing a brief halt in play. While the Spurs aim to replicate their interior dominance in the upcoming contest, the focus remains on sustaining this tactical precision. SportsLine models project that only Wembanyama and Knicks guard Jalen Brunson are likely to exceed 20 points in Game 4, highlighting the individual battles that will define the series' next phase.
The Spurs are now positioned to level the series at 2-2 if they can maintain this level of execution. The combination of Wembanyama’s intent to operate near the rim, Johnson’s designed actions, and the exploitation of defensive mismatches has provided San Antonio with a viable path to even the Finals. The outcome of Game 4 will determine whether the Spurs can capitalise on this momentum or if the Knicks will close out the series.
