06/08/26 11:07:00
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06/08 22:38 CDT Spurs' Victor Wembanyama shakes off Game 2 miss by taking over
Game 3 of the NBA Finals
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama shakes off Game 2 miss by taking over Game 3 of the
NBA Finals
NEW YORK (AP) --- Victor Wembanyama shook off his miss at the buzzer in Game 2
by taking over Game 3 of the NBA Finals and preventing the San Antonio Spurs
from getting pushed to the brink of elimination.
Wembanyama made the first two shots he attempted on Monday night on the way to
scoring 32 points in a 115-111 victory at the New York Knicks. He had nine
points in the first five minutes, including an alley-oop on the first basket of
the game and a dunk on the next possession and was a force on both ends of the
court, especially late when it mattered most.
Wembanyama was a key to San Antonio building an early lead but even more
importantly in a third-quarter rally to bounce back from another blown
double-digit lead.
After delivering the pass to Keldon Johnson for a layup that tied the score at
76 with 5:38 left in the third, Wembanyama hit a 3-pointer from 29 feet out to
put the Spurs ahead. He scored the first basket of what turned into a dominant
fourth quarter, later drawing a foul and making a pair of free throws for San
Antonio's 99th and 100th points.
With four minutes left and the Knicks looking to stage another comeback,
Wembanyama surged to block what looked to be an easy layup by Landry Shamet.
Wembanyama finished with eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks in what
was close to a must-win situation. No team has fallen behind 3-0 in the finals
and come back to win the series.
Teammates were not at all worried about Wembanyama in the aftermath of the
22-year-old star clanking a shot off the rim that would have been the Game 2
winner. Johnson said his recommendation was to shoot again and made clear the
Spurs want the ball in Wembanyama's hands at important moments.
Over the weekend, coach Mitch Johnson said he spoke to Wembanyama, though it
didn't appear to be anything different from their normal conversations over the
course of the season and playoffs.
"I think he's looking for what my job is, which is to help him, support him,
give him clarity, give him solutions or possible solutions to continue to give
him opportunities and give him advantages," Johnson said before the game.
"That's our job, and my job specifically, to put these guys in position to be
successful, and then they have got to go and help themselves and help their
teammates when they get out there on the floor."
Knicks counterpart Mike Brown acknowledged there's no way to gauge how well an
opponent feels about containing Wembanyama because the 7-foot-4 big man is that
impactful.
"It's a pretty simple formula: You're not blocking his shots, you're not
getting him off his spots --- you're not doing these things to him," Brown
said. "You hope you can make him work at the end of the day, and you hope he
misses some shots."
Wembanyama missed seven shots from the floor, going 11 of 18 and silencing the
crowd that at one point directed a vulgar chant his way. He'll now get a chance
to help the Spurs try to even the finals in Game 4 on Wednesday night back at
Madison Square Garden.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
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