The NBA Finals have officially become a battle.
After dropping the first two games of the series, the San Antonio Spurs stormed into Madison Square Garden and stole Game 3 with a 115-111 victory, cutting New York’s series lead to 2-1. Now all eyes turn to Knicks vs Spurs Game 4, a matchup that could either put the Knicks one win away from a championship or completely reset the Finals heading back to Texas.
This is the biggest game of the season for both franchises.
Brunson and the Knicks Looking to Regain Momentum
Jalen Brunson has been the heartbeat of New York’s playoff run.
The Knicks have leaned on their captain throughout the postseason, and when Brunson is controlling the pace, getting into the paint, and creating opportunities for teammates, New York looks nearly impossible to beat. The Knicks have consistently shown toughness, depth, and the ability to close games under pressure.
However, Game 3 exposed a few cracks.
New York struggled to contain Victor Wembanyama late in the game and allowed San Antonio’s supporting cast to make timely plays. The Knicks cannot afford another slow defensive start if they want to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The X-factor for New York remains Karl-Anthony Towns. When Towns is aggressive offensively and pulls defenders away from the basket, the Knicks become much more difficult to defend.
Spurs Have Found Life Behind Wembanyama
The Spurs finally looked like the team many expected entering the Finals.
Victor Wembanyama reminded everyone why he is already one of the league’s most dominant players. His combination of rim protection, scoring, and playmaking completely changed the flow of Game 3.
More importantly, San Antonio’s young core showed maturity. The Spurs played with confidence, pushed the pace, and forced New York into uncomfortable possessions throughout the night.
If Wembanyama continues to dominate defensively and San Antonio receives consistent scoring from its supporting cast, the Spurs have a legitimate chance to tie the series before returning home.
The X-factor for San Antonio is experience under pressure. Despite being one of the league’s youngest teams, they showed tremendous composure in Game 3. Repeating that performance in a hostile Madison Square Garden environment will be their biggest challenge.
Prediction for Knicks vs Spurs Game 4
Oddsmakers are expecting another tight battle in Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks enter Game 4 as slight favorites at approximately -4.5 points, while the Spurs are listed around +4.5. The moneyline sits near Knicks -180 and Spurs +150, reflecting how much respect San Antonio earned after stealing Game 3.
Those odds tell the story of this series perfectly. New York still has home-court advantage and arguably the more experienced playoff roster, but San Antonio has the best player on the floor in Victor Wembanyama when he is fully locked in.
For the Knicks, this game is about urgency. A win puts them ahead 3-1 and on the doorstep of their first NBA title in more than five decades. A loss sends the series back to San Antonio tied at two games apiece, shifting all the pressure onto New York.
For the Spurs, confidence is growing by the game. Wembanyama looks comfortable on the Finals stage, and the young Spurs are beginning to believe they can complete the comeback.
What to Expect
Expect a physical game with playoff intensity from the opening tip. Brunson will be aggressive early, looking to set the tone for New York, while the Spurs will once again lean on Wembanyama’s ability to impact both ends of the floor.
The difference may come down to which supporting cast steps up. If Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks role players win the secondary battle, New York should be in position to take control of the series. If San Antonio continues getting balanced scoring around Wembanyama, this Finals could quickly become a best-of-three.
The betting line favors New York, but Game 3 proved this series is far from predictable. Game 4 feels less like a must-win and more like a championship-defining moment that could determine where the Larry O’Brien Trophy ends up when all is said and done.