Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Champ de Lunas

ABS-CBN News

NEW YORK — As the 2026 NBA Finals shift to the Big Apple, the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs are gearing up for what is expected to be an all-out battle in Game 3.Madison Square Garden, which will host an NBA Finals game for the first time since 1999, is all set as both teams wrapped up their respective practice sessions on Sunday (Monday, Manila time), focusing on three-point shooting and free throws.The Knicks are looking to capitalize on their homecourt advantage at what is regarded as the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” Adding to their momentum is their record-tying streak of eight straight road playoff wins, matching the mark set by the 2001 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.However, New York head coach Mike Brown, who was given credit for their run, downplayed their surge, saying it was a product of a total team effort.&quot;My staff is great. They&#x27;re extremely diverse. They&#x27;ve all stepped up at different times. Same with the players,&quot; Brown said as the Knicks also extended their winning streak to 13 games, the second-longest in NBA playoff history.&quot;I don&#x27;t know. This is me personally. I think that anybody that says I got us here is flat out lying. You had to have help from somewhere,&quot; he added.Meanwhile, Mikal Bridges, who scored 20 points in Game 2, warned against complacency despite New York already being halfway to its first NBA title since 1973.&quot;I just remember losing four straight. That&#x27;s what I remember out of that,&quot; Bridges said, recalling his experience of squandering a 2-0 Finals lead with the Phoenix Suns in 2021.&quot;They all understand as well, knowing the series is far from over. Got to keep playing desperate and be the more desperate team. But we do a great job and we understand that after every game, no matter what, it&#x27;s always 0-0 at the end of the day,&quot; he added.On the other side, the Spurs are not backing down despite facing a 0-2 deficit, with young standouts Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell embracing the challenge ahead.&quot;To be who I want to be in this league, you kind of have to have that confidence,&quot; said the Filipino-American rookie. &quot;If I want to go out there and perform and play the way I want to play, I just have to double down on my work ethic. I feel like that&#x27;s kind of been at the top of everything recently, and now more than ever, I think it&#x27;s starting to show.&quot;For his part, Vassell reminded his teammates to focus on why they play the game, saying that mindset could help them bounce back from their recent skid.&quot;I think it&#x27;s human nature. I think at the end of the day it&#x27;s a blessing to be a part of, and it&#x27;s something that you dream about, so of course you think about it,&quot; Vassell said. &quot;But once it&#x27;s game time and the ball gets thrown in the air, all that kind of goes out the window. You&#x27;re playing basketball, the same game that you&#x27;ve played your whole life.&quot;The Spurs are expected to face a raucous New York crowd that has been waiting more than two weeks for the Knicks&#x27; return home after they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.Game 3 has been dubbed the most expensive single game in NBA history in terms of ticket prices.Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Manila time, with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to attend the game along with several A-list celebrities.

As the 2026 NBA Finals shift to the Big Apple, the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs are gearing up for what is expected to be an all-out battle in Game 3.

As the 2026 NBA Finals shift to the Big Apple, the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs are gearing up for what is expected to be an all-out battle in Game 3.

NBA Finals: Knicks seek to sustain streak as Spurs eye breakthrough

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NBA Finals: Knicks seek to sustain streak as Spurs eye breakthrough

Champ de Lunas,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 07:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

San Antonio Spurs

New York Knicks

Dylan Harper

Mike Brown

Devin Vassell

Mikal Bridges

New York City

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