The New York Knicks streak continues in game 3 at Madison Square Garden

By Carolyn Coene

With only two teams remaining in the hunt for an NBA championship, the 2026 NBA Finals head to New York with fans on the edge of their seat for Game 3 on June 8. The New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden holding a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs after winning both games away from home.

In Game 1, the Knicks opened the series with a 105-95 victory before continuing their winning streak with a 105-104 win in Game 2. Now, New York is just two wins away from capturing its first NBA championship since 1973 and ending a drought that has lasted more than five decades. New York earned its spot in the Finals by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, reaching the championship round for the first time since 1999. Making their first Finals appearance since 2014, the Spurs are led by rising superstar Victor Wembanyama and a talented young group that fought tirelessly through a seven-game Western Conference Finals series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Game 2 Recap: A Heartbreaker in San Antonio

Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104. It was a back-and-forth game, but unlike Game 1, the Spurs' second wind finally came. But with a chance to secure a comeback of their own, Wembanyama threw an errant pass that bounced off Stephon Castle's back and into the sure hands of Jalen Brunson, whose free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining put the Spurs in a 2-0 deficit.

"For just the second time in these playoffs, San Antonio lost the battle on the glass 44-42 to a Knicks squad that played with more desperation despite already stealing home-court advantage. The last time an opponent out-rebounded the Spurs in the playoffs, they suffered a 15-point loss to Oklahoma City in the conference finals. Of the 37 teams to go up 2-0 in the NBA Finals, 32 have gone on to lift the trophy, making for long odds for San Antonio as the series shifts to New York." — Michael C. Wright

Key Performers

Karl-Anthony Towns continued his career-best work, with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges seemed to hit everything in sight. The Knicks forced turnovers, got lucky ones and didn't beat themselves — an impressive showing in a situation where teams often fold after stealing a road Game 1. — Vincent Goodwill

Historical Context

History appears to favor New York. The Spurs became just the third team in NBA history to lose the first two games of the Finals on their home court. Both the 1993 Phoenix Suns and 1995 Orlando Magic faced similar outcomes, and in both cases the road team went on to capture the championship.

Don't rule out San Antonio just yet… The Spurs had the ability to win both games and have already proven that they can power through challenges throughout the postseason. With Wembanyama leading the team, they will look to respond as the series shifts to one of basketball's most iconic venues.

"Perhaps Wembanyama and the Spurs could make a comeback. They'll need to win at least two games in the atmosphere waiting for them in Monday's Game 3 and Wednesday's Game 4: the first Finals games inside Madison Square Garden in 27 years." — Tim Bontemps

The NBA Finals return to Madison Square Garden for the very first time in 27 years. The environment is expected to be electric as Knicks fans hope to see their team put one foot forward, ending a 53-year championship drought.

Byline: Carolyn Coene is a contributing journalist for Sportsmedia News, specializing in NBA coverage and historical sports analysis.