The atmosphere outside the San Antonio team hotel turned wild the moment the team bus arrived. New York fans were already waiting to welcome the visiting squad with verbal pressure. 

The scene occurred on June 7, 2026, in the middle of Manhattan. The Spurs arrived at their team hotel loading zone near Madison Square Garden ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals. A crowd of local fans gathered along the street and screamed at the players. 

One of the Knicks’ fans yelled loudly into the loading area. “Keep the bus running! It’s gonna be out of here in two days! See ya! Yo Wemby! Get ready to go golfing, buddy!” A video of the arrival was shared on X by @Fullcourtpass.

The fan thinks San Antonio will not stay in New York for long. By saying the bus would be gone in two days, the fan predicted a quick sweep in the series. This entire scene has set the tone for the upcoming games.

Knicks fans have plenty of reasons to feel this confident right now. New York managed to steal both Game 1 and Game 2 on the road in San Antonio. The team is on a historic 13-game playoff winning streak, which is the second-longest postseason streak in NBA history. 

With a chance to end a 53-year championship drought dating back to 1973, local expectations are higher than they have been in decades.

If New York wins the next game, the Spurs will drop into a 0-3 hole, a deficit no team in NBA history has ever overcome. The young roster must figure out a way to execute its game plan under pressure.

Can the Spurs star answer back at Madison Square Garden?

Victor Wembanyama led his team with numbers during the first two games, but his production came with high costs. In Game 1, he scored 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, but he shot 6-of-21 from the field and committed 6 turnovers. 

Game 2 was better, with 29 points and 9 rebounds, but he accumulated 4 more turnovers and missed a crucial jumper at the buzzer that could have tied the game.

After the Game 2 loss, Wembanyama took full responsibility for his mistakes during his press conference. He admitted that he threw the game away and messed up during the final minutes. 

Head coach Mitch Johnson has focused on clear adjustments during team film sessions leading up to Monday night. The coaching staff also pointed out that the team must limit second-chance points and do a much better job containing Towns on the boards.

Game 3 will completely dictate the direction of these NBA Finals for both franchises. A win will allow San Antonio to cut the lead to 2-1 and rebuild their confidence. On the other side, a loss can bring in more trouble. 

Can the visitors actually silence the Garden crowd, or will the Knicks once again dominate?

Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles! 

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi