3 reasons Spurs can feel confident in stunning Knicks in NBA Finals Game 3

As the San Antonio Spurs head into Madison Square Garden down 2-0 in the NBA Finals, there are a number of reasons to count them out vs. the New York Knicks. But, there are also three reasons for them to believe one of their best performances of the playoffs is still ahead.

During their surprising 2026 run, the Silver and Black have secured several impressive wins. Their three most impressive may have all come on the road.

Before getting to the list, two victories that could rank among their top three did occur at the Frost Bank Center, both vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs headed into Game 4 needing to avoid a 3-1 deficit. They won by a blowout. You can pretty much copy and paste for Game 6 of the series when they were facing elimination.

But, given different contexts, here are San Antonio’s three most impressive wins this year. So far.

First Round vs Portland Trail Blazers – Game 3

Playing without Victor Wembanyama, who had suffered a concussion in a Game 2 they lost, the young Spurs faced the prospect of going down two games to one to the seventh seed. Down by six points at the half, San Antonio trailed by 15 in the third quarter.

Dylan Harper then went to work. The majority of the rookie’s 27 points came in the second half and the Spurs outscored the Portland Trail Blazers by 11 in the final frame to win by 12.

With Wembanyama back for Game 4, the second seed won by 21 before closing out the Blazers by 19 in Game 5.

It was Game 3, though, that set the tone for the rest of the series and may have set the tone for the rest of their run. In winning on the road without Wemby, the Spurs perhaps served notice that they’d be around the 2026 playoffs for a while.

Conference Semifinals vs Minnesota Timberwolves – Game 6

Five games into the second round, and given that Anthony Edwards wasn’t fully healthy, the Spurs had established themselves as the favorite against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Could they now exhibit the moxie of a true contender and close out a tough series on the road?

The answer proved an emphatic yes. Stephon Castle’s 32 points led an effort that saw San Antonio up nine after the first period, 13 at the half, and 26 going into the fourth. They won every quarter en route to a 30-point blowout in a contest the ‘Wolves had to have.

Already considered a formidable match-up for the Thunder, the performance set the stage for the expected showdown.

Conference Finals vs Oklahoma City Thunder – Game 7

Not much of an argument needed. A triumph on the road in a winner-take-all game against the defending champions. From a great start, to fantastic responses to Thunder rallies throughout, to a poised and productive fourth quarter, the Spurs not only won, but took, the Western Conference championship from the title holders.

The Spurs will rely on that resolve in Game 3 vs. the Knicks. In fact, they’ll likely need it twice in New York City for a shot at the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

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