By Gianna Postiglione, Intern Journalist
What began as a hot postseason run has turned into one of the most dominant playoff stretches in NBA history. The New York Knicks enter Game 3 having won 13 straight playoff games so far. This is their longest winning streak of the season, occurring during the most important time.
Snapping a 27-year drought, the New York Knicks face off tonight against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. With a 2-0 lead over the Spurs, the Knicks take the series to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 at 8:30 pm EDT.
New York is loving the spotlight in the finals. Their last run at the Finals was in 1999 against the Spurs when they lost in five games. This year, the Knicks are looking for revenge.
The Captain’s Focus
Jalen Brunson, the captain of the Knicks, is looking to take Game 3 against the Spurs tonight. Over two games in the finals, Brunson is averaging 25 points per game in 75 minutes played across both finals games against the Spurs. His efficiency from the mid-range and his ability to manipulate the Spurs' defense has been the primary engine of the New York offense.
After Game 2, Brunson stayed true to himself and remained humble. "That's who my teammates are, night in and night out they come and bring it… I have the utmost trust and faith in them," Brunson said. His leadership has been tremendous for this New York team who hasn't let the bright lights distract them from their goal.
Dominance in the Paint
Averaging 19.5 points and 12.5 rebounds over two games in the finals, Karl-Anthony Towns is a big part of the Knicks' success. Towns has been a matchup nightmare for the Spurs thus far, dragging their rim protectors away from the basket and dominating as a solid two-way player.
“It's all about the team's success. So, for us to be up 2-0 it's a testament to the coaches getting us a great game plan, and to my teammates executing the game plan. It's a team effort,” Towns noted.
The Burden of Execution
Although the team is up in the series, according to Towns, there is still work to be done in order to beat a young and resilient San Antonio squad.
“We keep leaning on the word execution. I think we did a good job when we needed to, execute[ing] but we didn't do as well as we want[ed] to. So when we get back to New York, we’ll get back to work, get back to the gym, and try to correct the mistakes we made tonight,” Towns added.
Historical Context and the 0-2 Ghost
There are only five times in NBA history that a team has come back from an 0-2 deficit in the finals. The most recent time being in 2021 when the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2.
Mikal Bridges, who plays for New York, was on the Suns at that time, he watched firsthand as a 2-0 lead evaporated.
For the Spurs, the mountain is steep. Never in the history of the NBA has a team come back from a 0-3 deficit in the finals. If San Antonio drops tonight’s contest, they will be fighting history.
Seeking Legitimacy in the World’s Most Famous Arena
Security around the arena is at an all-time high, after the strict protocols have been put in place. Fans have been lining up since the early afternoon, decked out in blue and orange, hoping to witness what many believe is an inevitable march toward a championship.
San Antonio is looking to come out of Game 3 on the winning end. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will have to contend with a crowd that is widely considered the most hostile environment in professional basketball.
Looking Ahead to Game 3
While the Knicks are only two wins away from their first championship since 1973, the captain says the job is far from finished.
“The mindset has to be 0-0 again. That's how it has to be. You can't be comfortable, you can't be satisfied with anything,” Brunson said.