NBA Finals Game 3: Knicks Host Spurs at Madison Square Garden Amid Record Ticket Prices and Celebrity Buzz
The New York Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on June 10, completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history on an OG Anunoby tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining. The series had shifted in Game 3, when Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points to lead the Spurs to a 115-111 win at a sold-out, celebrity-packed Madison Square Garden — snapping the Knicks' 13-game playoff winning streak — before New York's stunning reversal the following night. The Knicks, appearing in their first Finals since 1999, now lead 3-1 and are one win away from their first championship since 1973, while the Spurs face elimination in Game 5 on Saturday.
The 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs has produced two of the most dramatic games in recent postseason memory. In Game 3 on June 8, Wembanyama delivered 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks as the Spurs won 115-111 at Madison Square Garden, ending the Knicks' 13-game winning streak — the second-longest in NBA postseason history. The game was attended by President Donald Trump, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president attended an NBA Finals game, as well as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and a star-studded crowd including Jay-Z, Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, and Spike Lee; Trump was booed loudly when shown on the arena screen. Knicks coach Mike Brown publicly criticized a 24-8 Spurs free throw advantage in the second half, though his own players, including Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, attributed the loss more to 13 turnovers and poor execution. Game 4 on June 10 saw the Spurs build a 29-point lead before collapsing spectacularly in the second half, being outscored 58-30 as Brunson finished with 36 points and Anunoby added 33, including the game-winning putback. The Spurs' late-game decision-making drew sharp criticism, particularly De'Aaron Fox's decision to attempt a layup rather than hold the ball with the Spurs leading by one and 16 seconds remaining — a shot blocked by Anunoby, who then tipped in the game-winner. The Knicks now lead 3-1, with Game 5 scheduled for Saturday in San Antonio.
How coverage differed
Fox News and the New York Post framed the officiating controversy in Game 3 with more skepticism toward referees, with the Post noting sardonically that the Spurs had 'a few clutch assists from the referees' in Game 4. The Guardian and CBS News reported Brown's complaints more neutrally, while Knicks players' own dismissal of the officiating narrative was consistently noted across outlets. BasketNews and Washington Times leaned heavily into framing the Spurs' Game 4 collapse as historic incompetence, while Yahoo Finance and NBC News offered more measured, context-rich analysis of San Antonio's second-half breakdown.
What different sources said
- AP NewsCenter
Spurs-Knicks Game 3 of the NBA Finals is a hot ticket with the potential for a wild scene
- CBS NewsCenter
Fans swarm MSG for Knicks-Spurs Game 3 of NBA finals
- Business InsiderLeft
All the celebrities, sports personalities, politicians, and business execs we spotted at Game 3 of the NBA finals
- NBC NewsLeft
Plenty of star power on celebrity row for Knicks-Spurs Game 3
- NewsweekCenter
ESPN Announces Impressive TV Viewership Numbers for NBA Finals
- New York PostRight
Knicks-Spurs Game 3 viewership hit over 26 million in huge NBA Finals ratings win
- Fox NewsRight
NBA Finals ratings surge as the league welcomes Trump, drops woke messaging — but is it sustainable?
- The Hollywood ReporterCenter
TV Ratings: NBA Finals Scores Largest Game 3 Audience Since the Michael Jordan Era
- Fox SportsCenter
‘In your head’: ALL-TIME comeback, Wemby stoush stun in thrilling finish - Game 4 LIVE
- BasketNews.comCenter
Charles Barkley rips Spurs, slams De'Aaron Fox after NBA Finals Game 4 meltdown
- Yahoo FinanceCenter
NBA Finals: Epic collapse leaves Victor Wembanyama, Spurs searching for answers
- BBC Top StoriesCenter
Knicks the dumbest basketball team in history of civilisation - Barkley
- The EconomistCenter
The Knicks represent New York—and capitalism—at its best
- New York PostRight
How to Watch Knicks-Spurs Game 4 For Free: NBA Finals Start Time, Live Stream Info
- The Guardian USLeft
NBA finals 2026 Game 4: San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks – live buildup
- Washington TimesRight
The greatest choke jobs in sports history -- and the Spurs just joined the list
- New York PostRight
How to watch Spurs vs. Knicks Game 4 NBA Finals live from MSG for free
- NBA.comCenter
Live Updates: Spurs, Knicks vie for crucial Game 4
- PBS NewsHourLeft
Victor Wembanyama carries Spurs to win, cutting Knicks' NBA Finals lead to 2-1
- Sydney Morning HeraldCenter
Suns coach fumes at controversial call
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