Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points in Game 3 as the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111, cutting their NBA Finals deficit to 2-1. Here are his postgame takeaways.
Victor Wembanyama scored 32 points on Monday night in New York to help the San Antonio Spurs avoid a 3-0 series deficit in the NBA Finals. When asked what turned the tide in a close fourth quarter, he did not credit his scoring but felt communication was a key difference.
"I guess a little bit of all," Wembanyama said when asked whether the difference was physical, mental, or execution. "Most importantly feels like it's communication."
The Spurs beat the New York Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden, narrowing the series to 2-1. This ended a streak of losing the first two home games. Wembanyama scored 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists on 11-of-18 shooting, 3 blocks, and made 8 of 9 free throws.
Wembanyama's win relied on details San Antonio overlooked, like understanding defensive coverages, reading plays, and positioning early to guide teammates.
"Knowing our plays on defense, knowing our plays on offense," he said. "Being there early and letting our teammates know what to do if we see things."
READ MORE: Spurs Beat Knicks in Game 3 of NBA Finals
Playing before a hostile crowd, Wembanyama said it united the team rather than rattled it. He echoed veteran Luke Kornet on the importance of tough road playoff conditions.
"At home it really feels like playing six against five," Wembanyama said. "Here it feels like five against six." He added that he agreed with Kornet that such nights show what a team is made of.
The crowd cheered Wembanyama with a chant. When asked if being targeted in New York was a compliment, he responded casually.
"I guess," he said. "I'm nowhere near Trae Young level, though."
Wembanyama trusts De'Aaron Fox, who scored 12 points and 8 assists despite a 4-for-14 shooting, stating he never questions the trust.
"That's his identity. So the trust is just complete," Wembanyama said. "We know it's reliable, as reliable as they get."
He reserved sharpest comments for Stephon Castle, who scored 23 points and made key free throws to seal the game despite a distracting crowd. Wembanyama described Castle as the most mature player on their team and was not surprised by his performance.
"He's been in big games before the NBA. I'm not surprised by this," Wembanyama said. He admitted he barely registered the noise in the final seconds. "At the end I didn't even hear the crowd really. I was focused on trying to get the rebound in case he missed. But that was useless."
Wembanyama credited his offseason training with enhancing his physical durability during a tough series. He said he ran laps all summer until his hamstrings were exhausted, and this conditioning has enabled him to remain on the court longer during the postseason.
"In the Playoffs I felt the hamstrings burning from running so much, playing sometimes 25 game-minutes in a row," he said. "So the physical aspect is really the difference maker."
He also relies on rest to clear his mind between games, often refraining from rewatching film immediately.
"Really tried to relax," Wembanyama said of his days in New York. "I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind."
The Spurs and Knicks meet again at Madison Square Garden in Game 4, with San Antonio looking to even the series.
