Knicks Beat Spurs in Record‑Breaking Game 3

The third game of the NBA Finals was watched by more people than ever before. ABC and ESPN together drew an average of 23. 8 million viewers, and the peak number reached 26. 3 million at 11:15 p. m. ET. The series started strong in San Antonio, where Games 1 and 2 each had over 16 million viewers. That made the opening of this Finals the most watched in eight years. The Knicks won both games played in San Antonio. Then, on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Spurs captured Game 3.The excitement was clear because this matchup is a rematch of the 1999 Finals, and it marks the first time since that year that New York has won the Eastern Conference. The Knicks’ run included a 13‑game playoff streak, the second longest in NBA history. Two big names helped pull in fans. The Knicks’ own popularity brings a large audience, and the Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is also a huge draw. The 22‑year‑old was named Defensive Player of the Year and is becoming a face of the league. Game 4 will start at 8:30 p. m. ET on Wednesday. New York hopes to lead the series 3‑1 and win its first championship since 1973.