NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 5: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during the game during Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Here we are again. Another NBA Finals game. The Spurs narrowly won game three with some clutch shooting, both of shots from the floor, and free throws. Now that the series isn’t going to be a sweep, will be get something other than “Assault: It’s not assault if you’re from South Texas.” reffing. We have Zach Zarba on the call, and in the conference finals, I’ve liked his refereeing the most.I’m not sure how the Knicks got away from having KAT cook Wemby off the dibble, but they did.
Anyhow, it should be interesting, and you can talk about it all right here!
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) vies for the ball against San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox (4) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Knicks enter Game Four with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals. First they must correct the offensive issues that led to their 115-111 loss in Game Three. While the Spurs deserve credit for defensive adjustments centered around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, New York’s biggest problems were self-inflicted: stagnant ball movement, costly turnovers, and a reliance on iso-ball that produced just 18 assists and squandered quality scoring opportunities.
One poor shooting night does not erase six weeks of dominant basketball, but New York will need more from Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and the supporting cast while also doing a better job protecting possessions and containing Wembanyama. No easy task. Tip-off is 8:30 pm EST on ABC. This is your game thread. This is Pounding the Rock. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Hold onto your humanity, it’s about to get wild in here. And go Knicks!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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What a difference a game makes! The Spurs went into the Garden on Monday night needing a win to stay alive in the series, because being down 3-0 in a seven game series in the NBA is a death sentence. The conventional wisdom was that the hostile and chaotic atmosphere of Madison Square Garden would throw the Spurs off balance and benefit the Knicks, when the reality was that the Silver and Black were the more poised team in Game 3. This team really showed that the are at their best when they have to perform by winning Game 7 against the Thunder in Oklahoma City to advance to the finals, and they delivered a similar performance in Game 3 of the Finals.
The Spurs turned things around because they went full Popovich in Game 3, and gave the Knicks some nasty, which the fans REALLY didn’t appreciate. I had a discussion with a coworker this morning and we agreed that the Finals against the Knicks are not the most rigorous series that the Spurs have played in the postseason, because both the Minnesota and Thunder series were more physical. But it seems like hell to the Knicks fans, who danced through the first three rounds against feather-soft opponents. They’ve cultivated a narrative where Victor Wembanyama is a diabolical combination of Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jack the Ripper, because he threw a guy who was pulling on his jersey to the ground1. TO THE GROUND! Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that about half of the lyrics of the Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer2 are in French.
Stephon Castle did about the best job that anyone can do on Brunson. He got his points, but they were inefficient, and he didn’t get anyone else involved in the offense. Dylan Harper had another fantastic outing for the Silver and Black, and Victor Wembanyama contributed magic from beginning to end. The Spurs are going to have to bring that kind of effort again tonight, because the Knicks are going to put together their best effort tonight. Devin Vassell was relatively quiet in Game 3, and a breakout game from him would be an asset for the road team.
A win tonight ties up the series, making a three game series with the Spurs having two at home. If the lose tonight, the Silver and Black need to win three games in a row to take home the trophy, which is a much tougher road. It’s going to be the most pivotal game of the series, just like the last one was. GO SPURS GO!!
It should have been called a foul, but the refs missed it in real time. I thought it was possibly a Flagrant 1 foul, but the league office reviewed it the following day and ruled that it wasn’t.
David Byrne was extremely prescient when he wrote that song in 1974. Victor hates people when they’re not polite. Maybe the Knicks should fa-fa-fa-fa run away …
Game Prediction:
KAT gets in a fight with Brunson because Jalen never passes the ball to him.
San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Game 4 June 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Streaming: ESPN TV: ABC Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks battle for position during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have ourselves a series. Down 2-0 with their backs against the wall going into Madison Square Garden, the young Spurs came up with a huge 115-111 win in Game 3.
Plenty changed in the Spurs’ favor for them to take the series to 2-1 and give themselves a real chance to get back into these Finals. Victor Wembanyama, of course, led the way. San Antonio made a clear effort to increasingly get him the ball near the rim and throw up high passes for him to catch lobs, or simply rise above defenders for good interior positioning and find easier chances to set up and finish. For the first time in the series, he attempted more layups and dunks than jumpers. Wemby was more impactful on defense too, and put together a dominant night with 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks.
Along with others like Julian Champagnie (12 points with three triples), Devin Vassell (11 points with 3-of-4 three-point shooting) and Stephon Castle (23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, plus his usual physical defense) remaining effective to round out the offense, the Spurs did what they needed to take care of business in Game 3.
Meanwhile for the Knicks, Karl-Anthony Towns continued to compete quite well on defense but quietened down offensively, scoring just 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting. If Wemby continues to thrive in the paint and outmatch Towns again in Game 4, that’ll be a big factor in the Spurs’ favor.
That wasn’t the only problem for the Knicks. Apart from issues like having a harder time containing Wemby inside, losing the free throw battle (22 attempts compared to the Spurs’ 32), and having 13 turnovers to the Spurs’ eight, Jalen Brunson struggled. Even though he led the Knicks in scoring again with 32 points and obviously remains the primary concern for San Antonio, Brunson finished Game 3 shooting a fairly cool 11-of-25 — taking him to just 39.0 percent shooting on two-pointers and 31.8 percent from three for the Finals so far. Along with over dribbling the ball, which helped cause the offense to stagnate on too many possessions, the Spurs were able to pull ahead of a Knicks offense that wasn’t at its best.
Brunson and others (Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet also had cold scoring nights on Monday) will need to bounce back and rediscover more fluid ball movement and varied offense to turn things around in Game 4.
So, what’s your Game 4 prediction? Do the Spurs tie things up at 2-2 and head back to San Antonio with a chance to take a series lead? Do the Knicks counter again with their own adjustments and a stronger showing from Brunson to go up 3-1? Let’s discuss in the comments and follow along with all the action.
Game Details
When: June 10, 8:30 p.m. ET Where: Madison Square Garden Watch: ABC Radio: ESPN Radio Follow:@LibertyBallers
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs #5 during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals.
The NBA league office must be salivating over the TV ratings for the NBA Finals.
Monday’s Game 3 broadcast between the Knicks and the Spurs was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 in nearly three decades, averaging 23.8 million viewers, data released by Nelsen showed on Wednesday.
Viewership for the game peaked late in the fourth quarter with 26.3 million people tuning in.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 goes up for a shot against San Antonio Spurs #5 during Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The last time that more people tuned in for a Game 3 in the NBA Finals was in 1998, when the Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls were closing in on a second three-peat.
It also holds the distinction of being the most-watched television program on broadcast TV since the Super Bowl in February, when the Seahawks defeated the Patriots.
The NBA Finals are averaging 19.1 million viewers through the first three games of the series, which makes it the second-most-watched following ABC/ESPN taking over coverage of the championship round in 2003.
The ratings also represent a massive increase from last year’s finals between the Thunder and Pacers, seeing a 114% uptick in viewership this year.
The massive ratings shouldn’t be a surprise with the Knicks back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and the Spurs having the biggest name – literally and figuratively – in Victor Wembanyama.
Game 4 on Wednesday night will surely draw more big numbers for broadcasters with the Spurs eying a chance to even the series up before it shifts back to San Antonio, and the Knicks looking to put their Western Conference foe on the ropes.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32), guard Landry Shamet (44) and forward OG Anunoby (8) during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals in the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Today is Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The San Antonio Spurs are at New York Knicks. Watch at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, or WJLA-TV here in the DMV.
The Knicks lead 2-1. New York won Games 1 and 2 in San Antonio, and the Spurs took Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, 115-111. If the Knicks win tonight, they’re one win away from winning their first Finals Game in 53 years. Otherwise, we’ll see this series go to at least six games.
Television analyst and hall of fame basketball player Shaquille O'Neal walks on the court before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Shaquille O’Neal has joined a growing list of former athletes taking GLP-1 drugs.
The Hall of Famer revealed he started taking Zepbound to combat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), something he was diagnosed with in 2011, shortly after retiring from the NBA.
The medications, initially primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes and OSA, have gained popularity for their use as weight-loss drugs.
“You know, I chose to share my experience because OSA is a serious but often overlooked condition,” O’Neal told GQ in an interview published Wednesday. “I want to help people if I can, because I can remember, especially when I stopped playing, the snoring, the daytime tiredness, a lot of fatigue, and being unable to focus. So this is very personal to me.”
Television analyst and hall of fame basketball player Shaquille O’Neal walks on the court before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The 54-year-old said he also took the drug to improve his energy and sleep as well as to sharpen his mind in retirement.
Other notable athletes promoting the use of GLP-1s include Serena Williams and O’Neal’s “Inside the NBA” panelist, Charles Barkley.
Williams, who recently returned to the professional tennis tour after four years at age 44, cited her GLP-1 treatment as significant for relieving the joint pain she experienced after giving birth to her daughter Olympia in 2017. She frequently appears in commercials for Ro.
Shaquille O’Neal speaks onstage during the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2026 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery
Along with Zepbound, O’Neal said he’s made other lifestyle adjustments. He’s “eating right and staying active with a lot of walking,” he told GQ.
While currently occupied with the NBA Finals, which continue with Game 4 on Wednesday night, O’Neal remains focused on keeping himself healthy.
Jalen Brunson; LeBron James; Victor Wembanyama; Tim Duncan
LeBron James may have delivered the most hilarious endorsement San Antonio has received in years — but it isn’t one that is unlikely to be adopted by the tourism bureau anytime soon.
While discussing the NBA Finals on the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast, the Lakers star explained why he believes the Knicks benefited from opening the series on the road against the Spurs rather than beginning amid the chaos of Madison Square Garden.
LeBron James jokes San Antonio is boring, then explains why that’s good for winning basketball. Getty Images
His reasoning? San Antonio offers players a rare luxury during the Finals: absolutely nothing to do.
“I mean, San Antonio, we focus on basketball,” James said. “You ain’t doing s–t in San Antonio. Nothing at all. Nothing. And I mean nothing.”
Was that a backhanded compliment or a blatant roast of the Deuce Dime city?
The Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) have been battling during the NBA Finals. Getty Images
James argued that starting the Finals in Texas helped the Knicks avoid the distractions that would have come with opening at home in New York, where celebrities, ticket requests and nonstop media attention can quickly overwhelm a team.
The four-time NBA champion painted the city as basketball’s version of a productivity retreat. No red carpets. No Club Room at Soho Grand. No endless social calendar. Just basketball.
San Antonio doesn’t offer much besides great basketball, LeBron James said recently. SeanPavonePhoto – stock.adobe.com
Even when co-host Steve Nash attempted to rescue San Antonio’s reputation by bringing up the famous River Walk, James wasn’t interested.
“Hell, no,” James replied. “You get on a River Walk, f— around and fall in the water.”
His larger point was that San Antonio’s lack of distractions creates ideal conditions for focusing on winning basketball.
Fans raise a poster during an NBA Finals game between the Knicks and the Spurs. NBAE via Getty Images
And history backs it up.
The Spurs built one of the NBA’s model franchises under Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, winning five championships while becoming famous for a culture that prioritized basketball over celebrity.
Duncan is often characterized as one of the NBA’s most boring superstars for his stoic demeanor and methodical play style.
Tim Duncan helped lead the Spurs to five NBA titles, including two over LeBron James. Getty Images
James knows this reality better than most. He lost two NBA Finals series in San Antonio and spent his early years in the league trying to overcome the Spurs’ dynasty.
And now the Spurs seem to be doing it all over again with Victor Wembanyama.
But while San Antonio may be the city where “nothing” happens, the Spurs spent Monday night proving their team is capable of a gobsmacking comeback.
Behind another dazzling performance from Wembanyama, San Antonio marched into the city that never sleeps and turned what looked like a one-sided NBA Finals into a real fight.
Monday night's Game 3 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks was watched by almost 24 million people, the highest-rated NBA Finals Game 3 this century.
ABC and ESPN, which broadcast the game, say the 23.8 million people who tuned in to watch the game is the most for an NBA Finals Game 3 in 28 years. The last time the third game of the Finals had more viewers came in 1998 when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were closing in on their second three-peat.
Game 3 of this year's NBA Finals is also the most-watched program on broadcast television since Super Bowl 60, when 125.6 million viewers watched the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots.
San Antonio's 115-111 win, which cut New York's series lead to two games to one, peaked at 26.3 million viewers at 11:15 p.m. ET.
The highest-rated NBA Finals game of all-time remains Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, when Michael Jordan sank a game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds left, giving the Bulls an 87–86 victory over the Utah Jazz for the franchise's sixth championship. That game on NBC was seen by 35.89 million viewers.
While the Warriors spend the summer searching for one more championship-caliber roster, Steph Curry appears perfectly content spending his offseason rapping Jay-Z on the French Riviera.
Fresh off being named to TIME’s inaugural list of the 100 Most Influential People in Sports, Curry was spotted this week at the famously exclusive La Guérite beach club in Cannes, enthusiastically singing along to “Empire State of Mind” as fellow diners cheered him on.
The brief viral clip showed Curry standing among packed tables overlooking the Mediterranean, phone in hand, gesturing through Jay-Z’s lyrics while guests recorded the moment and joined the fun.
Steph Curry went viral rapping Jay-Z in Cannes as the Warriors star enjoys a French Riviera offseason getaway. X/@TheDunkCentral
For anyone familiar with Curry’s music tastes, the soundtrack wasn’t exactly surprising.
The Warriors star has long spoken about his admiration for Jay-Z, previously naming the rap icon among his top-five favorite emcees.
So while some NBA superstars spend the offseason in the gym posting workout videos, Curry spent part of his summer vacation turning a luxury lunch into an impromptu “Blueprint 3” singalong.
The Cannes appearance is simply the latest stop on an increasingly enviable European getaway.
The Warriors’ Steph Curry, a four-time NBA champion, has been enjoying time in France. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Just weeks earlier, Curry was photographed enjoying time in Saint-Tropez alongside wife Ayesha, family members and friends. The four-time NBA champion was seen going shirtless while hopping between luxury boats and a private yacht anchored off the French coast.
It’s a well-earned break after a challenging season.
Warriors star Steph Curry has been relaxing in Saint-Tropez. BACKGRID
Curry missed 27 games with a lingering knee injury before returning late in the season to help lift Golden State back into playoff contention. He delivered several vintage performances down the stretch, including a 35-point explosion in the Play-In Tournament, but the Warriors ultimately fell short of making a deep postseason run.
Curry enters the summer with another major honor attached to his legacy.
TIME recognized him not only for revolutionizing basketball through the 3-point revolution but also for his broader cultural impact through entertainment ventures, philanthropy and influence that extends far beyond the court.
Warriors veteran Steph Curry is seeking his fifth career NBA title. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The timing is notable as Golden State quietly enters what increasingly feels like its final chapter.
Coach Steve Kerr’s contract now aligns with the remaining years of Curry’s current deal, creating a clear runway for one last title push. The Warriors have made it clear they are focused on maximizing what’s left of Curry’s championship window rather than launching a rebuild.
At 38, Curry remains the face of the franchise, the architect of an NBA revolution and one of the sport’s most influential figures.
For now, however, the only “last dance” Curry appears interested in is one between yacht stops and beach clubs along the Mediterranean.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks battle for position during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say it’s not a series until the home team loses.
Well, if that’s the case, the 2026 NBA Finals might be trying to become the greatest series of all time.
Through three games, home court has meant absolutely nothing. The New York Knicks walked into San Antonio, stole Games 1 and 2 from Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. The entire New York metropolitan area found itself in a collective basketball fever dream that only happens when a 53-year championship drought starts to look less like a curse and more like an inevitability. Karl-Anthony Towns was making a real Finals MVP case, the Garden was preparing for a coronation, and every Knicks fan from Manhattan to Montauk was envisioning the ticker tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes.
Then Game 3 happened.
San Antonio walked into Madison Square Garden and returned the favor, dominating the second half, taking the air out of the building, and handing the Knicks their first loss since April 23. New York had been rolling for so long that it almost started to feel automatic, which is always when sports becomes most dangerous. The second MSG started treating destiny like a direct deposit, Victor Wembanyama showed up and reminded everyone that this series is still very much alive.
Which brings us to Game 4, the pressure cooker game.
If the Knicks win, they take a commanding 3-1 series lead and move within a single victory of their first NBA title in 53 years. One win from the Larry O’Brien Trophy. One win from Karl-Anthony Towns joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love as former Timberwolves greats who found championship glory after leaving Minnesota.
But if the Spurs win? If San Antonio pulls the road reverse sweep and snatches both games at MSG after dropping the first two at home? Then this series becomes something completely different. It becomes 2-2. It becomes San Antonio regaining home court, if home court advantage even exists in this series. It becomes New York watching a 2-0 Finals lead evaporate in real time, with 53 years of anxiety crawling up the walls like something out of a horror movie.
That’s the thing about ghosts. They don’t stay quiet just because you win the first two games. The Knicks are trying to exorcise a 53-year-old demon. That’s not normal pressure. That’s not “close out a second-round series” pressure. That’s not “win a big Christmas Day game” pressure. That’s the entire weight of Knicks history pressing down on one team in one building in one city that has been waiting more than half a century for this. You could almost feel the mood shift after Game 3. The same fan base that was planning parade routes now had to spend 48 hours trying not to think about what happens if the Spurs win again.
That is why Game 4 is enormous. This is the kind of game that can define a series. Win it, and the Knicks walk into Game 5 with three chances to finish the job and the entire basketball world preparing for a New York coronation. Lose it, and suddenly San Antonio has ripped away the momentum, Wembanyama has reasserted himself, and the Knicks are staring at a best-of-three series against the one player in basketball who seems genetically engineered to ruin everyone’s plans.
For Wolves fans, of course, the focus remains on Karl-Anthony Towns. Our guy.
KAT did not have his best Game 3. After making a strong Finals MVP case through the first two games, he came back to earth in New York’s first loss of the series. Nobody said matching up with Wembanyama was going to be easy. Actually, let’s go one step further: it might not be possible in any normal sense. You don’t really solve Victor Wembanyama. You bother him, drag him into different actions, force him to work, and hope that over 48 minutes you create just enough pockets of normal basketball to win. Towns did that beautifully in Games 1 and 2. He played with the poise and maturity Wolves fans spent years hoping he would consistently find in Minnesota. He was physical without being reckless. He looked like a player who understood exactly what this stage required from him.
Game 3 was a reminder that nothing about this matchup will be easy. Now Game 4 becomes his response.
That’s why this is so compelling for those of us watching from the Wolves side of the fence. We spent years living through every version of KAT. The brilliant version. The frustrating version. The misunderstood version. The version that could dominate quarters and then pick up a foul 35 feet from the basket. The version that carried a terrible franchise with grace. The version that never quite got the chance to finish the job here.
Now he gets that chance in New York, under the brightest lights in the sport, in the most famous arena in the world, with an entire city begging him to help end a drought that has lasted longer than most of its fans have been alive.
No pressure.
The Knicks need him to be better in Game 4, point blank. If New York is going to put San Antonio one nail away from the coffin, Towns has to regain the form he showed in Texas, because San Antonio is not going away. The Spurs did not win the West by accident. They did not survive the Thunder by accident. They did not march through a loaded conference just to roll over because Madison Square Garden got loud. This is a young, prideful, absurdly talented team led by a generational player.
The Knicks still have the advantage. They still lead the series. They still have the Garden behind them. They still have Towns, Jalen Brunson, and the momentum that comes with knowing they already proved they can win in San Antonio. But Game 4 is where the series either bends toward New York’s dream ending or snaps back into something much more terrifying.
The Knicks are either one win away from glory or two wins away from disaster.
So yes, tonight matters for New York, for San Antonio, for Towns, and for every Wolves fan who still feels connected to the player who gave so much of his career to Minnesota and now stands within reach of the one thing every player spends his life chasing.
The Canis Hoopus faithful will be here backing KAT, cheering him on, and hoping Game 4 becomes the night New York steadies itself, answers the punch, and moves one step closer to the promised land.
NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama's 32-point performance in San Antonio's 115-111 win over the New York Knicks on Monday night was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since 1998.
The game averaged 23.8 million viewers and peaked at 26.3 million late in the fourth quarter, according to data released by Nielsen on Wednesday. That's the largest television audience since Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8.
The finals are averaging 19.1 million, the second most-watched since ABC and ESPN took over the broadcast in 2003. That represents a 114% increase over last year's series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.
“NBA Finals All‑Access with The Pat McAfee Show” averaged 1.1 million on ESPN, making it the most-watched NBA alternate telecast on the network.
Victor Wembanyama did his best “Cloverfield” impersonation, storming the Big Apple to send New Yorkers cowering in fear — just like the 2008 monster movie.
This “alien” led the San Antonio Spurs to a win over the New York Knicks, tightening the series heading into Game 4.
My Spurs vs. Knicks predictions like New York to push back tonight, thanks to defense, offensive execution, and a monster of its own: Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are my best NBA picks for Wednesday, June 10.
Our best Spurs vs Knicks SGP for Game 4
SGP leg #1: Knicks moneyline
The New York Knicks’ 13-game postseason streak came to an end, but that takes pressure off the team heading into Game 4. New York no longer has to be perfect and can clean up its sloppy play, which led to the San Antonio Spurs’ strong showing on Monday.
The Knicks coughed up the ball 13 times and awarded San Antonio 21 points off turnovers, which is just what the Spurs’ transition-heavy offense wants. New York gets back to business in Game 4, controlling pace, limiting miscues and putting themselves one win away from an NBA title.
SGP leg #2: Under 216.5
The Under has been the bet in the NBA Finals for the past 20 years, coming through at a 60% clip since 2005-06.
After the Under hit in the first two games of the finals, the Over landed in Game 3, thanks in part to the Spurs getting easier looks and scoring from the foul line.
With the Knicks refocused and not handing over extra possessions, Game 4 comes in short of the total.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists
Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t get into rhythm in Game 3 and was passive in his offensive approach, especially compared to his overall work in the postseason.
New York needs to get KAT going early, and with San Antonio throwing smaller guards at him, expect the 7-footer to clean the offensive glass and distribute from the high post.
I have him pegged for a collective 35 PRA, while some bullish models are as high as 41+ for this combo prop.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Knicks predictions for Game 4.
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New York Knicks owner James Dolan broke his public silence on June 10, engaging in a war of words with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. It ended up with the planned watch party outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals canceled hours before tipoff.
Mamdani officially announced the cancellation the afternoon of June 10, blaming Dolan in a post on X. Dolan's Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. fired back, saying in a statement the Knicks never agreed to what the city proposed, and that the party wasn't canceled in the traditional cense, but that city restrictions would prevent it from happening.
The finger-pointing was just part of the Knicks owner's busy afternoon.
Dolan also took to WFAN's Craig Carton Show to blast Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for what he called a "police state" around the Garden. He said getting into MSG was harder than accessing Area 51 and accused city officials of trying to kill the fan celebration.
MSG Sports, the company led by Dolan that owns the Knicks and their arena, released a statement on June 10 calling the watch party permit granted by Mamdani's New York City administration "disingenuous at best" because of conditions that included not allowing more than 1,000 spectators and forcing attendees to have a ticket to enter.
"But more important is the Mayor's plan to freeze out fans from celebrating outside Madison Square Garden," the MSG Sports statement read, "which will turn the streets around MSG into a police state."
The NYPD said June 10 that MSG's permit application only requested an event for 500 to 1,000 people. The city granted the maximum that MSG asked for.
Dolan, Mamdami spar over extra security for NBA Finals Game 4
MSG accused Mamdani and Tisch of keeping the same frozen zone security from Game 3 in place for Game 4, which the organization said was "supposedly to thwart any threats related to" the Game 3 attendance of President Donald Trump.
"We now know these restrictions were never about the President," MSG's statement read.
Dolan personally invited Trump to Game 3. Like all presidential visits to Manhattan, Trump's arrival and the associated heightened security created massive inconveniences for people in the area.
It seemed like things could get back to normal after the presidential visit.
Mamdani announced via social media on June 9 that the city had approved "a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4."
"As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city," Mamdani wrote on his X account. "We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence. Be safe, take care, and celebrate responsibly. Knicks in 5."
Watch party arrests, disturbances central to war of words
The NBA Finals Game 3 watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled due to security protocols in place for Trump's attendance at the game. But a Game 3 watch party hosted by New York City at nearby Bryant Park ended with at least eight people arrested, according to multiplereports.
The NYPD announced June 10 that the same secure zone and security fencing around Madison Square Garden for Game 3 remains in place. It encouraged fans to arrive early and leave bags at home for Game 4.
"This is not about watch parties, it's about celebrating wins," MSG Sports said in its statement. "Issues that happened at the Mayor's Bryant Park watch party (a city-run watch party) are not related to blocks around MSG nor any other previously run MSG watch party."
Madison Square Garden Sports previously referred to Mamdani and NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as "party poopers" in a June 9 press release blasting the decision to limit the number of fans that could attend the Game 4 watch party outside the Garden.
Mamdani and Tisch have emphasized the security protocols for Game 4 near the arena are in line with other major events like New Year's Eve and July 4. Mamdani attended Game 3 and told reporters he bought a ticket in the nosebleeds to the first NBA Finals game hosted by the Knicks since 1999 for nearly $1,000.
On June 10, the Knicks ownership group noted that Oklahoma City, Boston, Denver and Toronto have each successfully had major celebrations and NBA Finals watch parties around their arenas in recent years with only minor incidents.
"If the Mayor won't allow that, can he at least give Knicks fans an honest answer of why not?" the MSG Sports statement concluded. "He can't blame it on the President. He is not coming to Game 4 and there is no reason to create a police state around The Garden."
Asked about being called "party poopers" by MSG, Mamdani talked about the importance of safety and the city's economic boom from the Knicks run. Mamdani didn't address the president's visit.
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