The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on Monday, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead and moving within one win of their first championship since 1973, according to the official NBA.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 20 points and six assists as New York returned home to MSG for the first NBA Finals game at the arena since 1999, per the NBA’s official game summary. The victory marked the Knicks’ 13th straight playoff win, extending their dominant postseason run.
Among the celebrities watching from courtside was Ben Stiller, the actor and die-hard Knicks superfan, who has been a fixture at the Finals games. According to the New York Post, Stiller told the outlet he is “reveling in Knicks being on cusp of title after years with ‘a lot of pain’.” The Hollywood Reporter noted that Stiller was among the stars in MSG’s “Celebrity Row” alongside other high-profile attendees like Timothée Chalamet.
The Knicks’ 3-0 lead marks the franchise’s first time holding such a Finals advantage in team history, according to the official game notes. With one more victory, New York would claim its first championship in 53 years. The last time the Knicks won the title was in 1973, when they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. This Finals matchup is a rematch of the 1999 series, which the Spurs won 4-1, per Yahoo Sports.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks, while Mikal Bridges contributed 18 points on efficient shooting. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26 points in the losing effort, according to the NBA’s box score.
Sources
- NBA.com — Game summary, final score (105-95), player statistics, and series lead confirmation
- New York Post — Ben Stiller’s exclusive quote about reveling in Knicks’ Finals run
- Hollywood Reporter — Celebrity attendance at MSG Game 3, “Celebrity Row” reference
- Yahoo Sports — 1999 Finals matchup history and current series context
