French basketball star Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 to relaunch their bid for the 2026 NBA crown.
After an error cost his side the second game in the best-of-seven series, 22-year-old Wembanyama atoned with a match-winning performance to help his team reduce the Knicks' overall lead to 2-1.
"We showed better poise at times," said Spurs boss Mitch Johnson after Game 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York which was attended by the US president Donald Trump.
"I thought we finished the game still with some things that need improvement, but stronger than we did the last two games. We were in attack mode," Johnson added.
The Knicks, who host Game 4 on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, are searching for their first NBA Finals title since 1973 while the Spurs last won the honour in 2014 after sweeping past the Miami Heat 4-1.
'Tried to relax'
Wembanyama, who was voted the most valuable player (MVP) during his team's surge through the Western Conference finals to the title showdown series, told reporters: "I really tried to relax. It's hard to put your head out of the water. I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind."
Stephon Castle added 23 points to Wembanyama's haul.
Castle scored 18 in the first half and five points late in the fourth quarter.
"I feel like we still haven't really done anything," Castle said.
"Obviously we're still down 2-1 and we're looking forward to the next game.
"Obviously it feels good to win, especially on the road after dropping two bad ones at home.
"But I think our confidence has been the same throughout this series regardless of what happens."
Jalen Brunson, who claimed the MVP accolade during the Knicks run to the Eastern Conference title, scored 32 points.
Change of tactics
"I tell the guys, it's a seven-game series for a reason," said Knicks coach Mike Brown said.
"The Spurs are a great team. They are well-coached. They have an iconic player in Wembanyama. It's not going to be easy."
It was New York's first loss since a 109-108 setback against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference first-round series on 23 April.
"Didn't do what got us 13 straight wins in a row – that's how you lose a game," said Knicks pivot Karl-AnthonyTowns.
"We didn't do what we've been doing for 13 [games]. We decided to do something different, and it ain't going to work."
