San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -1.5; over/under is 216.5
NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Spurs won the last meeting 115-111 on Tuesday, led by 32 points from Victor Wembanyama. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 32.
The Knicks are 30-10 in home games. New York has a 9-4 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.
The Spurs are 30-12 on the road. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference with 47.0 rebounds per game led by Wembanyama averaging 11.5.
The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 more made shots on average than the 13.0 per game the Spurs allow. The Spurs are shooting 48.3% from the field, 2.3% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
De'Aaron Fox is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 9-1, averaging 115.6 points, 45.6 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.2 points per game.
Spurs: 5-5, averaging 110.3 points, 46.1 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 8.3 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 43.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.
Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 23: Sportswriter Brian Windhorst looks on before the game during Round One Game Two of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2025 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst spoke with CLNS Media’s and CelticsBlog’s Bobby Manning about the Celtics offseason and where everything stands with this summer’s most intriguing possibility.
On the Celtics potential pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Windhorst said, “the big question the Celtics would have is Giannis prepared to sign an extension in Boston? I don’t know the answer. Also, do you feel good about signing a guy that, I would say, has had chronic injuries to a $275 million contract when he is in his thirties. Does everyone feel good about that?”
“I have not heard that Boston is on Giannis’ list,” he continued. “I have not heard that Giannis is prepared to sign an extension with Boston. So frankly, the Jaylen Brown part is moot to me.”
When asked about the Celtics ability to get back to the Finals, Windhorst said, “I thought Boston was going to win the East this year. They looked great. They’re not that far.”
“I think everybody would agree they need more big-man depth. Do you believe that Queta is your franchise center? Do you honestly look yourself in the mirror and (ask), ‘can you beat Karl (-Anthony) Towns, can you beat Victor Wembanyama (in a series)’ because that’s the standard. Maybe they believe he can, I’m not saying he can’t but that’s the question they need have to consider.”
Windy also went on to talk about the ways the Celtics can use the $27 million trade exception they got in the Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic trade in February.
“The Simons trade exception is a big asset. Team’s are going to be looking to get off contracts, that’s where we are in the apron era and the Celtics have decent control of their first round picks. They have those things two things to add a nice player. That’s probably at the front of mind.”
“Now if they get a call from Giannis’ agent in ten days and says he wants to be a Celtic, then let’s have a different conversation,” Windy continued. “Until I hear about that, I think they should focus on using the Simons trade exception and hitting on their draft pick.”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 and De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Spurs have bounced back and shown their resiliency all season long, and that was no different Monday night, resulting in a 115-111 victory to cut the Knicks’ series lead down to 2-1.
The good guys were on fire to start. They prioritized paint touches and got Wemby going early, throwing him lobs and opening up the lane for drives. There was always an extra pass to find the open man, resulting in an early 7-0 run that soon turned into a double-digit lead. Defensively, San Antonio threw different coverages at the Knicks, sometimes matching Wemby up with KAT and at other times allowing him to roam off of Josh Hart. As a result, New York struggled to get anything going, turning the ball over and forcing up bad shots.
Similar to games 1 and 2, though, the Knicks mounted a comeback — using their bench no less, in the non-Brunson minutes. New York finally started running their offense more through KAT, who overpowered every Spur not named Wemby. Clarkson, Alvarado, and Shamet energized the crowd and the home team through their relentless effort, helping them knock down shots while the Spurs went cold. Steph Castle was the only one consistently scoring for the good guys, capitalizing on turnovers and attacking the basket fearlessly.
Then, things went from bad to worse in the blink of an eye for San Antonio. Josh Hart made a number of wide-open threes, and the Knicks’ ball movement was always one step ahead of the visiting team. After a slow start, Brunson started knocking down shots too, and New York suddenly turned a deficit into a 7-point lead going into halftime, outscoring the Spurs 42-24 in the second.
As has been the case all season long, the Spurs wouldn’t give up. They played methodically to start the third, regaining the lead. Wemby found his stroke from deep, making two threes that quieted the raucous MSG crowd. The bench logged key minutes too, keeping San Antonio above water while giving Wemby a breather. Then, both teams tightened up, playing some sloppy basketball at both ends. The Spurs started throwing the ball all over the gym while New York rushed shots, and the scoring dried up.
Then, the biggest play of the game happened. Up seven with eight minutes left, Wemby made a deep three that included a foul on Mitchell Robinson, potentially leading to a four-point play. However, the Knicks won a challenge to overturn the call after noticing that Keldon Johnson had pushed Robinson into the Alien. What could’ve been an 11-point lead was then cut down to five after Brunson made a quick bucket on the very next play, setting up another exciting finish.
Fortunately, that did not disrupt the Spurs’ focus. San Antonio continued to play good defense and capitalize on their chances at the other end, maintaining a two-possession lead until the final minute. Then, the Knicks’ magic surfaced again, but it didn’t last (for once). Brunson and Anunoby hit two straight threes (with a Fox bucket in between) to cut it down to a one-possession game, before Castle iced the game with two clutch free throws.
Game notes
The Carter Bryant minutes remain a mystery to all of us at PtR. He’s had flashes of brilliance, even in this game, but it’s not a coincidence that the Knicks have made comebacks in all three games starting in the second, when he usually checks in. It’s absolutely baffling that Mitch insists on playing him against a veteran New York team that feasts on inexperience, when there are more minutes to be given to a guy like Harper.
Another thing I don’t understand? The hesitancy to tweak the starting lineup and play Harper over Champagnie. The rookie has arguably been the best Brunson defender, while Jules is his favorite target to attack. Yes, the Spurs will be giving up shooting, but that’ll be offset by the added defense and ballhandling, and Harper hunting Brunson was one of the catalysts of San Antonio’s comeback in game 2.
The Spurs changed their coverage on KAT: Wemby played him straight up at times, and he was guarded by smaller players on other possessions. It effectively shut down Big Purr, who had 11 points on 10 attempts, but it allowed Hart to go 4-7 from deep and score 16 points. If this scheme can limit KAT that much, I’m willing to bet on Hart’s shooting falling back down to earth. That’s a big if, though.
Wemby had by far his best game of the series. He finished with 32/8/6 on 11-18 shooting and was aggressive from the tip, setting the tone for the rest of the team. We’ll need to see a similar performance in game 4 if this series is going back to San Antonio tied at 2.
Rowdy Knicks fanatics clashed with cops outside Bryant Park’s Game 3 watch party Monday night – including at least one who hurled a bottle at an officer.
The sea of fans was already teetering over the edge just one hour after tip-off, as many didn’t make it inside the official watch park of the Knicks-Spurs game in the Midtown park.
Huge brawls broke out and cops in riot gear rushed to control the unruly crowd, deploying pepper spray.
People react during a watch party in Bryant Park for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on June 8, 2026 in New York City. Getty Images
Rabblerousing fans started vaulting onto parked cars while chanting “We want Wemby!” One daredevil set fire to a Spurs t-shirt, while a mob chased a San Antonio fan across the street.
The troublemakers, who largely appeared to be young people, even knocked down a metal bus sign and broke off large tree branches.
Unruly youths took it in turns to try and knock over a bus sign near Bryant Park, wild video obtained by Freedom News shows.
The circular sign eventually fell off after the pole had been rigorously shaken – and the moment sparked jubilant scenes.
The New York City Police Department and Secret Service cancelled an NBA Finals watch party near Madison Square Garden, with fans advised to arrive at least two hours before Monday’s game due to heightened security for President Trump’s attendance. Getty Images
Cops in riot gear rushed to control the unruly crowd and deployed pepper spray, while fans tossed bottles at the officers.
But another shocking video showed the sign being used as a weapon during a brawl on 42nd Street.
One lunatic was seen smashing the sign off the heads of others in the chaotic scenes.
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
Entering Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Shamet had been one of the postseason’s best stories, riding the best eight-game 3-point shooting stretch in playoff history after being booted from the rotation in the first round.
But Mike Brown’s most trusted reserve finally collided with the law of averages, scoring just three points while shooting 1-for-8 from the field in the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
Shamet, who made 1-for-7 on 3-pointers, had shot nearly 68 percent from the perimeter in the previous eight games and scored at least 13 points in his previous four games.
“Great process, got some great looks, had a few that were down and out,” said Shamet, who finished with a team-worst minus-20 rating. “Process over outcome. I’m more upset about some of the things defensively that I’ve been priding myself on. I had a few possessions where I didn’t do my job like I needed to. That’s fixable. Sometimes the gods give you in and outs and the ball doesn’t go in.”
Landry Shamet (44) puts up a 3-point shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the third quarter of NBA Finals Game 3 on June 8, 2026. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
While Jordan Clarkson (10 points, three rebounds) and Jose Alvarado (four points, three rebounds) provided energy off the bench, Shamet and Miles McBride (scoreless in nine minutes) contributed to the Knicks’ first loss since April 23.
Shamet’s lone make came on a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to pull the Knicks within two, but the veteran struggled down the stretch, missing three attempts in the fourth quarter, including an ugly, forced 3-pointer that induced groans from the largely electric Garden crowd.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“They came out, they made adjustments, they were more physical,” Shamet said. “They kicked our ass and we’ve gotta bounce back.
“We gotta look in the mirror and get better and we’ll do that. I feel good about knowing we can clean some things up. We’ll be better in Game 4.”
It is another chance to leave his mark on one of the biggest games in Knicks history. It is another chance to add another chapter to his unlikely tale.
“The city was crazy, you could feel it from Mars, I’m sure,” Shamet said of the Game 3 atmosphere. “New York was buzzing. A lot of energy. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a win from the home fans, but we’ll respond and we’ll be better.”
The tone, ominous for the Knicks, was set immediately.
The Spurs forced the ball inside to Victor Wembanyama.
Dunk and dunk.
Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) slams the ball over Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first quarter. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
It would be 48 minutes of San Antonio feasting in the paint, led by Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. The Knicks defense, so strong throughout this postseason, was a weakness Monday night.
They couldn’t slow down the Spurs’ young guns in a 115-111 loss at an electric Madison Square Garden.
“We weren’t as connected as we normally are,” OG Anunoby said after the Knicks allowed their most points in 17 playoff games this spring. “We had some mental mishaps and allowed some easy buckets, and also our transition defense wasn’t what we wanted it to be.”
So, basically, everything.
In the first two games, the Spurs averaged 14.5 turnovers. They only committed eight in Game 3. So they had more possessions by cutting down on their mistakes and took advantage of it.
But the biggest issue was the interior defense, allowing Wembanyama and Castle to combine for 55 points on 19-for-32 shooting.
They crushed the Knicks on the interior. The Spurs piled up 44 points in the paint and attempted 32 free throws.
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
“I give San Antonio, their staff and their players a lot of credit. They just stayed with it, stayed with it, tried to execute, tried to execute, tried to execute, and we did not do a good job with the details,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I think it’s a combination of both because they had to execute their actions, and then we had to make sure that we tried to execute our defensive responsibilities, and we didn’t do a really good job with it.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle shoots the ball against New York Knicks guards Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
The Spurs shot 35 percent from 3-point range in going 12-for-34. They did hit some big 3s. But that wasn’t what bothered Brown about his team’s defense Monday night.
“We allowed them to get to the paint, and we did not pay attention in detail to what we are supposed to do defensively,” Brown said.
Knicks guard Landry Shamet #44 defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama #1 in the fourth quarter.
Victor Wembanyama is known for many things.
He’s the next face of the league. He’s an “alien.” He’s a 7-foot-4 sensation who can make 3-pointers.
But he may have just added to his lore.
His newest act?
Knicks villain.
He played spoiler on a night when Knicks fans paid over $11,000 to get into Madison Square Garden. He ruined the team’s first Finals game on home soil in 27 years. He sent President Donald Trump, Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller home disappointed.
Right now, Wembanyama is New Yorkers’ No. 1 enemy.
Wembanyama led the Spurs to a 115-111 win Monday in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, dealing a blow to the most populated city in America with 8.4 million residents who were foaming at the mouth to celebrate being one win away from their first championship since 1973.
Not so fast.
Wembanyama had 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the field, 2-for-4 from deep, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocked shots to put the series at 2-1.
In a tight fourth quarter in which the Knicks cut the Spurs’ eight-point lead to 113-111 with 9.4 seconds left, Wembanyama was the best player on the court. He had 10 points. He had a blocked shot. He was aggressive on the defensive end, helping hold the Knicks to 3-for-10 shooting in the paint over that period.
It was nightmarish for New Yorkers, who are used to Jalen Brunson playing the hero in those types of tight situations.
Wembanyama not only played spoiler, but earlier in the game he shoved the King of New York, firmly embracing the villain moniker.
With under five minutes left in the first quarter, Wembanyama pushed the back of Brunson’s neck. The Knicks star fell onto his hands. Richard Jefferson said on the ABC broadcast that he should’ve been assessed a flagrant 1 foul.
But there was no whistle on the play.
Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) defends against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama. Jason Szenes for the New York Post
Knicks fans weren’t pleased. In the second quarter, a “F–k you, Wemby” chant erupted as Karl-Anthony Towns shot free throws. Knicks fans also took to X to voice their displeasure. One Knicks fan wrote, “Wembanyama is turning into a punk.” Another added, “All my homies hate Victor Wembanyama.”
Welcome to a very elite club, Wemby.
Trae Young is its president. To this day, fans chant “F–k you, Trae Young” following games after he tormented them during the first round of the 2021 playoffs, including shushing the crowd after he hit a game-winning shot in Game 1 and then taking a theatrical bow after clinching the series in Game 5.
Tyrese Haliburton also recently joined the club when he wore a hoodie featuring Reggie Miller’s 1994 “choke” gesture after eliminating the Knicks in Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Miller and Michael Jordan were also proud card-carrying members of that club during their battles against the Knicks in the 1990s.
When Wembanyama was asked if he’s now a Knicks villain, he flashed a smile.
“I guess,” he said. “I’m nowhere near Trae Young level, though.”
More Coverage on the Knicks during the 2026 NBA Finals
For Wembanyama, this is an honor. It means he’s doing something right.
We all knew this type of performance was coming for him.
There was a change in Wembanyama after Game 2 when he threw the ball off Stephon Castle’s back with the score tied at 104-104 and 9.5 seconds left, leading to a 105-104 loss. Wembanyama took responsibility for that blunder. He blamed himself for the loss.
Wembanyama spent the next few days trying to reset. He went to Gramercy Park in Manhattan to sketch a statue. After the Spurs fell into a 2-0 hole, legendary coach Gregg Popovich advised the team to forget the last two games. Wemy took those words to heart.
In Game 3, Wembanyama was a different player.
He went from waiting for the game to come to him to playing with a sense of urgency from the moment the ball was tipped. He was physical. He was him.
And he did it in New York, under the brightest of lights, under the most crushing pressure.
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs works against Jose Alvarado of the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter. Getty Images
“At home it really feels like playing six against five,” Wembanyama said. “Here it feels like five against six. … It really shows what teams are made of.”
Now Wembanyama is currently the most hated man in New York.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Gavin Sheets hit a tying double and then scored the go-ahead run while the Cincinnati Reds misplayed three consecutive bunts by the Padres in the seventh inning, sending San Diego to a 6-2 victory Monday night.
Freddy Fermin homered in his third consecutive game and drove in two runs for the Padres, who were struggling offensively for yet another night until they found a highly unorthodox way out of their slump and into just their third win in 14 games.
After Sheets doubled in Xander Bogaerts to chase starter Andrew Abbott (4-4), the next three San Diego batters bunted against Tejay Antone — and the Reds couldn’t field any of them.
Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor got credit for singles when Antone and his infielders failed to play their bunts cleanly, with Sheets scoring the tiebreaking run on what appeared to be a safety squeeze attempt by Taylor.
Antone was then charged with a fielding error on Fermin’s bunt, although the reliever shook it off and escaped the bases-loaded, nobody-out jam.
Bowen and Taylor, the Padres’ two recent outfield callups, contributed more than just big bunts.
Taylor added a two-run single in the Padres’ three-run eighth, while Bowen had two hits and stole the first two bases of his major league career. Taylor also threw out Matt McLain at home to end the second.
Abbott pitched four-hit ball into the seventh with six strikeouts for the Reds, who have lost five straight and nine of 11.
Walker Buehler held the Reds to one run despite giving up eight hits over 4 2/3 rocky innings.
Fermin homered in the third to extend an improbable power streak for a catcher who had only 20 homers in his five-year major league career.
The Reds went ahead in the sixth when Noelvi Marte singled and scored on Edwin Arroyo’s sacrifice fly against winner Adrian Morejon (5-1).
Up next
Lucas Giolito (2-1, 4.86 ERA) makes his second home start for the Padres on Tuesday night against the Reds’ Chase Burns (7-1, 2.05 ERA), who hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his nine starts while going 6-0 since April 10.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 12: Darryn Peterson looks on during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on May 12, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz will have the opportunity to draft a generational player regardless of who the Washington Wizards pick at #1. Two of AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer will be there to pick, depending on what the Wizards do.
But of all those three prospects, who will survive Utah Twitter the best? Let’s take a look.
Peterson doesn’t post much on his socials. They tend to be self-promotion and team-related tweets, and some Instagram stories about his puppy, Denim. His Instagram profile pic is Kobe Bryant, and his Twitter profile pic is Edward Scissorhands. There’s not a lot you can derive from these about Peterson, but that’s not a bad thing. Peterson is very much focused on basketball, based on his profiles, and it doesn’t look like he’s spending much time interacting. Overall, this is a very good sign for the future. I’m also a fan of his posts relating to Kobe Bryant. If that’s the player the Jazz are getting if they get Peterson, there’s a lot to be excited about for Jazz fans.
Dybantsa is much more active on socials and gives a broader window into his life and basketball. Dybantsa also documents his basketball life on YouTube. If a dynamic social presence is what you want from your superstar, Dybantsa is your guy. This is definitely something that could help Dybantsa become an iconic player in the league.
Having a big social presence can be a double-edged sword. Will Dybantsa be satisfied in Utah if he’s not getting all the endorsement deals of a bigger market? Chances are he’ll be fine. He did choose to come to Utah for college, after all.
Boozer is similar to Darryn Peterson but probably gives a little bit more of a window into his life and his family. On Twitter, he promotes his basketball life as well as his twin brother Cayden Boozer’s.
It’s clear he isn’t spending a ton of time on his socials and uses it for promotion and basketball and not much else. The Boozer family has strong ties to Utah, which makes his socials really fun for Jazz fans. It’s also a bonus for Boozer that he has no connection to one of the colleges in Utah, which would help him avoid any issues with the local rivalry.
The Verdict?
The player most likely to survive Utah Twitter?
Darryn Peterson
Because Peterson almost never posts on Twitter, he has almost zero potential problems. Dybantsa will have a lot of BYU fans, but you can bet you’ll have some rivalry-related tweets coming his way. Boozer is very similar to Peterson on socials, with it being mostly milquetoast tweets. But with Peterson posting less, he gets the edge.
Congrats to Darryn Peterson, who clearly is all about basketball and not much else.
It’s not clear if social media will play into who goes #1 in the NBA Draft. Right now at FanDuel, AJ Dybantsa has the edge at -450 and Darryn Peterson is the second most likely at +380.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros celebrates an RBI double during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 08, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Astros Road trip began with a little extra flavor for all, going 10 innings from Anaheim and in the process, producing one of the bigger comebacks of the year. From Jose Altuve’s daring baserunning to Brice Matthews one hop rocket throw to home plate, negating a slide by Mike Trout, it was late night heroics all around. Houston would tie it in the 9th and ultimately win it in the 10th. Astros 5. Angels 4.
Spencer Arrighetti entered Monday Night having never defeated the Angels during his career and although he didn’t get the win, the Astros picked up their 31st victory. The win ultimately went to Josh Hader in relief. Arrighetti cruised with a six-pitch opening frame, but then the wheels began to fall off in the second inning thanks to a series of miscues, rekindling flashbacks of Arrighetti’s hard luck fourth inning last week versus Pittsburgh.
Jo Adell would lead off things in the second inning, reaching first base after being hit by an errant pitch. He scored the game’s first run courtesy of ex-Astro Trey Mancini, who registered an RBI single in his first big league game in three years. In total, nine different batters would come to the plate with a combination of walks and hits, even Logan O’Hoppe getting in on the action with a double that drove in a pair. Final damage was thirty-six pitches thrown and three runs on the board. It’s now six times over his last ten starts that Arrighetti has walked at least four batters.
Houston would get on the board in the top of the fourth after Yordan Alvarez reached on an error by Mike Trout and scored thanks to Christian Walker’s RBI Double. Doubles would be the theme of the night for Houston, as their first six hits would all be two baggers. Lamont Wade Jr., in just his fourth game with the club, would register an RBI double, scoring Isaac Paredes in the 6th inning. Wade would exit moments later with tightness to his right hamstring. Brice Matthews would come in as a pinch runner and score when Cam Smith doubled him home, tying things at three.
De Los Santos would come on in relief and give up a solo shot to Zach Neto in the 7th. For Neto, it would be his 13th home run of the year. However, Christian Walker would secure the Astros first single of the night, in a clutch moment in the top of the 9th, with a hit to center, scoring Jeremy Pena, tying things at 4-4. In the 10th inning, on a fielding error by Logan O’Hoppe, Jose Altuve would score the winning run. Bryan Abreu would come in and close the door earning his 4th save.
Odds and Ends.
Kai-Wei Teng will take the hill for the Astros in game two as they look to even the series. He’ll be opposed by Walbert Urena who has an identical 3-4 record as Teng for the season.
Christian Walker has now registered a hit in six of his last seven games. Collin Price notched his first official career hit with a double in the top of the fifth inning.
In what will undoubtedly be a theme this summer, Yordan Alvarez received yet another intentional walk. He leads all of MLB with nine.
It had been more than six weeks since the Knicks suffered a loss, 45 days since Mikal Bridges was benched in a scoreless effort that led to the Hawks taking a 2-1 lead in the first round.
But after six-plus weeks as one of the driving forces behind the second-longest win streak in postseason history, Bridges reverted to the indecisive wing prone to disappearing acts, scoring just two points, before getting benched for much of the fourth quarter in the Knicks’ 115-111 loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
Mikal Bridges made little impact on the Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the Spurs at MSG. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
“We gotta be better,” said Bridges, who shot 1-for-5 from the field. “I gotta be better for next game.”
Bridges, the only player on the Knicks roster with significant NBA Finals experience before last week, looked overwhelmed under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden, needing just 29 minutes to lose the aggressiveness and confidence he’d built during the team’s previous 13 games.
Barely three minutes into Monday’s game, Bridges was on the bench after committing two fouls, and he never gave himself a chance to get in rhythm, repeatedly looking away from the rim when the ball hit his hands.
Though Bridges was brilliant in the Game 2 win in San Antonio — scoring 20 points, with six rebounds and six assists — he took just six shots in Game 1, the fewest he’d attempted since the first round.
Mikal Bridges drives down court as San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox gives chase in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
In the 2021 NBA Finals with Phoenix — when the Suns blew a 2-0 series lead — Bridges scored 27 points in a Game 2 win, then averaged just over four shots per game in four straight losses to the Bucks.
“Offensively, we got a little stagnant,” Bridges said. “We just gotta keep moving and spacing. … They just played harder than us, more physical. … It starts with me defensively. I think I did a bad job defensively. They scored a good amount of times when I was in throughout the game. For me, it starts with defense and feeding off of that.”
Two years of inconsistency and anger over the five first-round picks traded for Bridges had been forgotten when Game 3 began, when Bridges received a hero’s welcome during introductions.
When the final buzzer sounded — crushing the thousands who spent thousands on one of the most anticipated games in the Garden’s history — Bridges was back in a familiar place, trying to make sense of a night to forget.
“We’re gonna be all right,” Bridges said. “We’re gonna regroup and learn from our loss.”
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 06: The baseball cap of the Atlanta Braves sits in the dugout during the MLB game between the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves on June 6, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mark Bowman of MLB.com tackled the subject that has grown more popular over the past few weeks: a potential trade of Tarik Skubal by the struggling Detroit Tigers. For the Braves specifically, Bowman concluded that while the Braves would obviously love to acquire Skubal, the high prospect cost for a rental likely does not make sense. As an alternative, Bowman laid out some options that would be at more reasonable prospect costs and can be controlled beyond this year.
Make no mistake, the Braves have every reason to prioritize going after a starter with a bit more reliable outlook in playoff scenarios than Spencer Strider or Bryce Elder currently. Alex Anthopoulos likely agrees with this sentiment, as he has been in pursuit for that exact talent for years. However, he is going to have go to back to his Toronto days and outside his current comfort zone to pay the prospect price to get such a pitcher. One way to better the chances of Anthopoulos doing exactly that is for any acquired pitcher to have years of control. While there may not be many available options that fit that criteria as of now, Anthopoulos will explore all avenues to get another significant arm in the Braves rotation.
In this week’s Injury Report, Tarik Skubal is on his way back just one month following elbow surgery after dominating in his rehab outing. The Yankees will be without reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge for at least the next 4-6 weeks. And Dylan Cease returns to the mound for the Blue Jays on Tuesday. That and more as we cover the latest relevant injury news around baseball.
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Tarik Skubal (elbow)
Incredibly, Skubal was back on the mound for his first rehab start just one month after undergoing surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow. He made that start on Sunday with High-A West Michigan, striking out six batters over five scoreless innings on 54 pitches while touching 99 mph on his fastball. There’s a very good chance Skubal is back in the Tigers’ rotation this weekend.
Jordan Walker’s breakout is fueling the biggest surprise in MLB this season.
D.J. Short
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Aaron Judge (ribcage)
Judge had been held out of last Tuesday’s lineup and deemed day-to-day with shoulder soreness, but when it was reported he’d see a specialist, it raised cause for concern. After undergoing additional imaging, Judge was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right rib cage. There’s no timeline for a return, but the 34-year-old superstar will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks, with full expectation that he will return sometime this season. There’s just zero clarity as to when. Judge hadn’t been off to the best start by his standards, hitting .248 with 17 homers, but it’s a huge blow to the Yankees and fantasy managers nonetheless. Spencer Jones takes his spot on the active roster, for now. But Jasson Domínguez, currently on a rehab assignment and working his way back from a shoulder injury, could be activated in the coming days.
Dylan Cease (hamstring)
Cease is ready to return after missing the last couple of weeks with a strained left hamstring. He required just one rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo, giving up five runs with six strikeouts over four innings. The 30-year-old right-hander will take the mound on Tuesday against the Phillies in Toronto. Cease was in the middle of a strong bounceback season before he was stalled with the hamstring issue, posting a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts over 62 innings.
Konnor Griffin (forearm)
It was originally thought that Griffin would only need the minimum stint on the injured list to recover from a right flexor tendon strain. After a second opinion with Dr. Keith Meister, which never tends to produce good news, Griffin will miss a bit more time than expected. How much more time he’ll miss is still up in the air, but the team is going to err on the side of caution with their 20-year-old budding star.
Bobby Witt Jr. (knee)
Witt’s status will be one to keep a close eye on. He departed Sunday’s game against the Twins in the seventh inning with right knee soreness. The issue apparently progressed throughout the game, and he was hoping to finish out the day with Monday’s off day coming, but was unable to continue. It should be considered a day-to-day situation, but Witt will undergo further evaluation leading up to Tuesday’s series opener against the Rangers.
J.P. Crawford (hand)
Crawford took a 95 mph fastball off his right hand and was removed on Friday against the Tigers. X-rays came back negative for any fractures, but after sitting out both games over the weekend, he ended up on the 10-day injured list with a right hand contusion. It seems like it will be a minimum stint for Crawford. Still, the timing isn’t great, as he was really heating up at the dish, hitting .333 with four homers over his last 11 games. Second baseman Cole Young steps into the leadoff spot in Crawford’s absence, with Colt Emerson sliding over to shortstop. Emerson missed Monday’s contest with back tightness.
Hunter Brown (shoulder)
Brown made his third rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land, giving up one run on three hits over 4 1/3 innings. He tossed 57 pitches, touching 98.9 mph and inducing 10 whiffs. Brown is in line for another rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday to continue building his pitch count. Barring any setbacks, Wednesday’s start should be Brown’s last rehab outing before joining the Astros rotation next week.
Max Muncy (hand)
Jacob Wilson (shoulder)
Wilson has been out for a month now with a left shoulder subluxation. He started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday and will likely need at least a handful of games before he’s ready to return. Meanwhile, the A’s got Max Muncy back from the injured list on Monday after he missed nearly six weeks with a fractured finger.
Ryan Helsley (elbow)
Helsley has progressed to facing hitters in live batting practice. He should be cleared to begin a rehab assignment following Monday’s session. Helsley has been sidelined since late April with right elbow inflammation. He’ll presumably need a handful of rehab outings before he’s ready to return.
J.C. Escarra started Monday at catcher, which completed a four-day whirlwind that began late Friday night when he was told that he was being optioned to Triple-A. In his first start since his reprieve, Escarra committed a catcher’s interference and was 0-for-2 before he was lifted for pinch hitter Amed Rosario and replaced by Ali Sánchez.
About 12 hours after being optioned, Escarra was eating pizza in New York with his wife and child — squeezing in some family time while taking advantage of the three-day window to report to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — when he was told not to leave town just yet.
Sure enough, Escarra, 31, was “recalled” without missing a day of the Yankees season because of Wells’ symptoms. So now Escarra and Sánchez — the catcher who was initially called up to take Escarra’s place and provide a right-handed bat and break up the two left-handed catchers — are platooning.
“They didn’t even give me time to think about it,” Escarra joked with The Post. “I have an apartment in New York, so I wasn’t in a rush when I could be with my family. Stuff that I don’t get to do because we have games every day.
Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) strikes out in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“A few hours later they called me: ‘How fast can you get here?’ Here I am starting tonight. Everything happens for a reason, but I’m just focused on … doing as good a job as [Wells] did behind the plate. I was taking the bad news well, but this is where I want to be.”
Escarra, who had a three-hit game May 25, said he has caught all members of the Yankees starting rotation at some point over the past two seasons. That lessens his adjustment to a bigger role.
“Some of that option was circumstantial, and I think he understands that,” Boone said. “He’s done a great job with our pitchers. He’s been entrenched in our culture for the last couple years. I’ve maintained I feel like there is a lot more in there for him offensively. I think part of that is just getting an opportunity to play more frequently. I have a ton of confidence when J.C. is behind the plate.”
Giancarlo Stanton could rejoin the Yankees as soon as the next homestand (June 16-21) against the White Sox and Reds, Boone said. He will spend this week continuing to ramp up his hitting and running.
Max Schuemann had a table-setting walk in the 10th inning ahead of Cody Bellinger’s tiebreaking two-run single. He had entered the game as a pinch runner for Paul Goldschmidt, hitting between Ben Rice and Bellinger.
Schuemann challenged a 3-1 strike call and was so confident that he was right that he began stripping off his hitting equipment as the replay showed ball four.
“That actually gave me a little comfort when he started doing that,” Boone quipped.
The San Antonio Spurs snatched Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals from the New York Knicks 115-111 on Monday, June 8, raining on the parade of the first championship matchup at Madison Square Garden since 1999.
According to the NBA, this is only the second time in NBA history the first three games of the championship series were won by the road team. The only other time was in 1993 when the Chicago Bulls ultimately beat the Phoenix Suns in six games.
The NBA Finals stay in New York for Game 4, which tips off on Wednesday, June 10.
Here's the NBA Finals scores and schedule after Game 3:
2026 NBA Finals schedule
Every game of the NBA Finals starts at 8:30 p.m. ET. All matchups will be broadcast on ABC and can also be streamed on Fubo.
Game 5: Saturday, June 13 | New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs | 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
*Game 6: Tuesday, June 16 | San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks | 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
*Game 7: Friday, June 19 | New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs | 8:30 p.m. ET | ABC
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D.J. Short
