The Association crew break down what the Knicks and Spurs need to do in order to win Game 4.
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What is each team’s biggest advantage entering Game 4?
Brian Martin
For the Knicks: Rest and depth. With Game 4 being the last game of the Finals coming on just one day of rest — before two days off between each subsequent game to accommodate travel — will the Knicks’ rest advantage come into play? The Knicks have played four fewer games and nearly 200 fewer minutes this postseason (821 to 1,018) after sweeping the past two rounds, compared to the Spurs, who were pushed to six and seven games, respectively.
Aside from having fewer miles on their legs, the Knicks have also gone deeper into their bench than the Spurs so far in the Finals. New York’s reserves have outscored their San Antonio counterparts 77-64 through three games, a plus-13 advantage in a series separated by a total of just seven points. The Knicks have nine players averaging 10+ minutes per game compared to just seven for the Spurs.
For the Spurs: A rising Wembanyama. Victor Wembanyama has improved with each game of his first NBA Finals. His scoring (26, 29, 32), field-goal percentage (28.6%, 52.4%, 61.1%), 3-point percentage (22.2%, 33.3%, 50%), and plus/minus (-3, +6, +7) have all risen from Game 1 to Game 2 to Game 3.
While Wembanyama has knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in each game, his attempts have decreased in each game (9, 6, 4) as he has shifted his offense closer to the basket. With his team down 2-0, Wembanyama opened Game 3 with his first five shots coming within five feet of the basket — beginning with a pair of dunks to set the tone. Plus, after committing a total of 10 turnovers in San Antonio — including a costly giveaway at the end of Game 2 — Wembanyama committed only one in the Spurs’ Game 3 win.
Shaun Powell
For the Spurs: Their defense on Jalen Brunson is similar to the suffocation applied to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs managed to make Gilgeous-Alexander work for almost every shot and it helped that the Thunder were missing Jalen Williams for much of that series, but still. Against Brunson, the Spurs’ young and quick and physical guards — Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper in particular — are forcing him to burn calories, and that’s all you can do against certified scorers such as Brunson and Gilgeous-Alexander. Now the trick is to make sure Brunson doesn’t beat them in the clutch — easier said than done.
For the Knicks: They still hold the series lead, the home court advantage and are the wiser team. Plus, they managed to dig out of holes for three straight and plant doubt inside the heads of the Spurs; they just didn’t cash in Monday. Collectively, the Knicks are deeper and bring more talent. That usually defines the superior team. Also, OG Anunoby is quietly having a decent series and isn’t afraid to challenge Victor Wembanyama at the rim, believing his strength can overpower Wembanyama, who has yet to swat one os his shots away.
John Schuhmann
For the Spurs: They are getting better shots. Victor Wembanyama is scoring in the paint, his gravity is creating open looks for his teammates, and their offense has gotten progressively better with each game. The Knicks’ offense has too, but they’re having to work a little harder for good shots and are too often playing late in the clock. Game 3 was their most efficient offensive game of the series, but it came with their second-lowest shot quality of the playoffs.
For the Knicks: The primary advantage is the 2-1 lead they have in the series. But they’re also winning the possession battle, with offensive rebounds being one reason they were efficient in Game 3, despite the tough shots. And if we’re going to get more close games (all three have been within three points in the last two minutes), the Knicks are a little more comfortable with where they’re going on clutch possessions.
Jeff Zillgitt
For the Spurs: Victor Wembanyama has improved with each game in the Finals, culminating with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals in San Antonio’s Game 3 victory. It was his highest-scoring output of the series on 11-for-18 shooting, including 2-for-4 on 3s, and he had his series-best 16 points in the paint. His first eight points of Game 3 came on shots at the rim, including two dunks to give the Spurs a 4-0 lead. He has been more aggressive since Game 1, and this isn’t to say the Spurs “have figured out the Knicks,” but his improvement is a good sign for San Antonio, and it creates better opportunities for his teammates.
For the Knicks: Their collective experience. For certain, the Knicks don’t have a roster full of players with Finals experience. Mikal Bridges gained experience with the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks, and Jordan Clarkson (Cleveland in 2018) and Dillon Jones (Oklahoma City in 2022) had limited minutes in their Finals appearances. But players such as Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby (he was injured during Toronto’s 2019 championship run), and Josh Hart have experience in important games. The Knicks have shown how strong they are when that collective experience is brought to bear. They showed that at the end of Game 1, in their comeback in Game 2 and that they will need it in Game 4.