What's Wright - NBA Finals Game 3 REACTION: Spurs SILENCE MSG, Wemby dominates, Knicks in DANGER? | Nick Wright

We’ve got ourselves a real Finals now. San Antonio punched back behind a big-time Victor Wembanyama response, and Game 4 suddenly has that old-school, double must‑win feel for the fans even if the Knicks still hold the edge; also, welcome back to the desk, Demonsé, fresh off the Complex Bets run and a Texas golf hang with JR Smith.

Feeling good, and yeah, the last few months have treated me well.

Quickly, I love when a dynasty recycles mid-round talent on the cheap the way New England did and the Chiefs may start doing, but the story tonight is Game 3, so take it.

You said this might be over, but the young Spurs just handed New York its first loss in a long stretch; you still confident?

I never called a sweep, and credit to the Spurs for not folding, but two loud narratives are off: the refs didn’t cost the Knicks this game, and there’s no reason to panic about the series.

Game 2 was horribly officiated toward San Antonio, so a tighter Game 3 that leaned their way a bit feels worse than it was; New York actually lost because they finally had a flat night defensively, got loose with the ball, and slipped into some hero ball.

Castle’s late three after a busted possession was the swing, and while the whistle chatter gets amplified online, the Knicks were fouling because they were a step slow.

Big picture, it’s still a best‑of‑three with two in San Antonio where New York already won twice, so I think the Knicks are fine; before we get to the Brunson–Wemby shove, what’s your read so far?

I’m surprised the Spurs climbed back, but it tracks that the Knicks’ experience has carried most nights; if San Antonio steals Game 4 at the Garden, then New York can start sweating.

At halftime I thought the Knicks had it, then they opened the third with turnovers, gave the lead back, and had to play on San Antonio’s terms the rest of the way.

That’s huge poise for a young group, and these games have stayed tight late.

I still like New York in Game 4 and my Knicks-in-six call; Mike Brown working the bully pulpit is smart gamesmanship, but Wemby’s brilliance and that Brunson incident both mattered.

Wemby had his best outing of the series, Castle hit big shots, and everyone chipped in; how impressed were you with that response in the Garden?

That’s superstar stuff: steady production every quarter, living at the rim, and finally the best player on the floor wire to wire after a brutal Game 2 finish, which is exactly how you answer a moment like that.

But he grabbed Brunson by the back of the head and shoved him, and it’s not his first edgy play; does the league need to step in?

Bigs need some edge, but his file is growing, and I think a retroactive flagrant one is on the table, which would put him one point from a suspension if another flagrant happens before a potential Game 7.

Landing‑zone closeouts are automatic flagrants now and he had a reckless one that was missed, so if he’s sitting on three points he’ll need to be careful on contests; Brunson’s calm reaction likely kept refs from reviewing the shove in real time, but it should be upgraded.

Is he crossing into dirty‑player territory?

I won’t label him dirty like a Beverley or Dylan Brooks, but the temper flares are there, and the Giannis blueprint is right in front of him: dominate every night and flip the series that way.

Why did this one really get away from New York with Brunson inefficient, KAT quiet, and Bridges off?

It was a collective dip, but Brunson’s on‑off jumps out, as the Knicks are actually winning his bench minutes while Castle bothers him and he leans too heliocentric.

They can push minutes for the six they trust and tweak Mitchell Robinson’s rotation to dodge hack‑a timing; Bridges has to settle in, and KAT needs touches and force.

Is KAT’s Finals MVP case dead?

Not at all; Brunson’s the favorite if the Knicks win, OG’s been quietly rock solid, and one bad night doesn’t erase KAT’s first two games.

Does this loss end the all‑time run talk?

They already logged the second‑longest playoff streak and monster margin records, but to sit with the classics they still need the trophy; the sweep conversation is over and that’s fine.

Demonsé wasn’t here because he was in Dallas with JR Smith for Complex Bets, which looked awesome; want to share what’s coming?

The plan is a podcast during football season with a picks‑and‑banter vibe, similar to what we do here, timing permitting.

America’s teaser sharp is branching out, I love it; how nervous were you, and did you clear the soup question?

I pitched it and saved it for last, was nervous the whole way with a big crowd behind the camera, and my golf game was so bad I basically only putted.

Al Harrington and Ben Gordon were out there too, and for the record, Demonsé doesn’t trade on my name, which I respect.

The trip almost unraveled with a storm, a fuel stop in Abilene, and a late-night ride to Dallas, but I made it and got the job done.

Game 4 is Wednesday and I lean Knicks; if they lose, then the anxiety is real, and I’m curious how Wemby looks on one‑day rest in his last such spot this postseason.

Programming note: starting Thursday through July 15 we’ll still pod on the same days, but live in the afternoons because First Things First moves to 10 a.m. to noon Eastern; like, rate, subscribe, and we’ll talk to you Thursday.