Samwise NBA Newsletter
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Spurs Silence Madison Square Garden with 115-111 Game 3 Victory, Cut Series to 2-1
The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden on Monday, cutting New York’s 2026 NBA Finals series lead to 2-1. Victor Wembanyama posted 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals, while Stephon Castle added 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. The Spurs trailed by seven at halftime but responded with a dominant 35-27 third quarter to seize control. Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points, and OG Anunoby added 28. Game 4 tips off Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Wembanyama Becomes Second-Youngest Player to Post 30-5-5 in NBA Finals History
Victor Wembanyama’s 32-point, eight-rebound, six-assist, three-block, two-steal performance in Game 3 placed him in elite company in NBA Finals history. At 22 years and 155 days old, Wembanyama became the second-youngest player ever — behind Magic Johnson — to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, and five assists in a Finals game. In the second half, he scored half of San Antonio’s fourth-quarter points and fueled a 35-27 Spurs third quarter after San Antonio trailed by seven at the break. The performance carried the Spurs to a 115-111 victory and revived their championship hopes.
Stephon Castle Joins Kawhi Leonard in NBA Finals History with First-Half Explosion
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle became the first player 22 or younger to score 18 points in a half of an NBA Finals game since Kawhi Leonard in 2014, delivering that effort in just the first half of Game 3 on 7-of-9 shooting. Castle finished with 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists on 8-of-14 shooting in 38 minutes of the Spurs’ 115-111 victory. Combined with Victor Wembanyama’s 32 points, Castle and Wembanyama also became the first pair of teammates each aged 22 or younger to score 20-plus points in a Finals game.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Yahoo Sports
Mikal Bridges Admits to Bad Job Defensively as Knicks Fall in Game 3
Mikal Bridges had a forgettable outing in the Knicks’ 115-111 Game 3 loss Monday at Madison Square Garden, scoring just two points on 1-of-5 shooting. Bridges acknowledged afterward that he did a “bad job defensively,” having fallen into early foul trouble in the first quarter and spending much of the fourth quarter on the bench. The performance contrasted sharply with Bridges’ Game 2 showing of 20 points, 8-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, and six assists over 41 minutes. Bridges told reporters he knows he must be better as the series remains at MSG for Game 4 on Wednesday.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Yahoo Sports
Wembanyama Outduels Towns in Game 3 as Big Man Matchup Swings to Spurs
After two dominant outings in San Antonio, Karl-Anthony Towns was outplayed by Victor Wembanyama in Game 3, finishing with 11 points and eight rebounds in the Knicks’ 115-111 defeat. Through Games 1 and 2, Towns had averaged 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds while helping hold Wembanyama to under 37 percent shooting as his primary defender. In Game 3, Wembanyama turned the tables with 32 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, leading San Antonio’s second-half comeback at Madison Square Garden. Towns still leads the series in overall impact, and the Knicks retain a 2-1 advantage heading into Wednesday’s Game 4.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · ESPN
NBA The Run Launches Today with 30-Plus Stars, Reviving the Arcade Basketball Genre
Arcade basketball video game NBA The Run launched Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, featuring more than 30 current NBA stars including Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball, Stephen Curry, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards, and Cooper Flagg. The game is priced at $29.99, with a $39.99 Deluxe Edition offering additional content. Drawing inspiration from NBA Jam, NBA Street, and NBA Playgrounds, the 3-on-3 game places players in fast-paced four-round knockout tournaments on streetball courts around the world, with randomized rules per matchup. Cross-play is enabled across all three platforms.
Sources: NBA.com · Yahoo Sports
Knicks Seek to Reclaim Series Momentum in Game 4 on Wednesday Night at MSG
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs meet again Wednesday at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, with New York leading 2-1 after the Spurs’ 115-111 victory in Game 3. Tip-off is 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. San Antonio’s win ended the Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak. A Knicks victory would put New York within one win of its first championship since 1973. The series also carries historical weight: the last time these franchises met in the Finals was 1999, when the Spurs defeated the Knicks in five games to claim their first NBA title.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · NBA.com
2026 NBA Playoffs — Finals Underway
🏈 NBA FINALS: New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs — Knicks lead 2–1
Eastern Conference Path
ECF: Knicks def. Cavaliers — 4–0
Semis: Knicks def. 76ers — 4–0
R1: Cavaliers def. Pistons — 4–3
Western Conference Path
WCF: Spurs def. Thunder — 4–3
Semis: Spurs def. Timberwolves — 4–2
Semis: Thunder def. Lakers — 4–0
R1: Thunder def. Suns — 4–0
Game 4: Wednesday, June 10 · 8:30 p.m. ET · ABC · Madison Square Garden
Curated by JD · samwise.agency