In a thrilling Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs managed to avoid a sweep, edging out the New York Knicks with a score of 115-111 at Madison Square Garden. While Jalen Brunson shone with a 30-point performance, not everyone was thrilled with his approach to the game.
ESPN commentator and die-hard Knicks supporter Stephen A. Smith took to SportsCenter after the game to voice his concerns about Brunson’s mindset. “I can’t believe I’m saying this about a superstar,” Smith remarked. “We all appreciate what Jalen has done for the Knicks, but tonight, he seemed more focused on winning the Finals MVP than actually winning the game. He took 25 shots during his time on the court.”
Smith continued to question the distribution of shots among the players, highlighting that Karl-Anthony Towns only attempted 10 shots, with a mere four in the second half. “How does that happen?” he asked. He also pointed out that teammate Josh Hart, who had been effective in the first half, only got five shots in the second half. Meanwhile, OG Anunoby was on fire, scoring 28 points on just 13 attempts, raising the question of why Brunson didn’t facilitate the ball more effectively.
Brunson wrapped up Game 3 with 32 points on 11-of-25 shooting, alongside five rebounds and five assists, but he also had five turnovers. While it’s understandable that Brunson would want to take charge in clutch moments—given his reputation as one of the league’s top performers—Smith emphasized the need for him to involve his teammates earlier in the game, especially when they were hitting their shots.
Anunoby’s efficiency was particularly notable, as he shot 9-of-13 from the field. Smith argued that there was no reason for him to have only 13 shot attempts. Towns, who had been a focal point in previous games, struggled with just 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting, marking his first lackluster performance of the series.
After a standout Game 2, both Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal had named Towns as a potential Finals MVP. Smith suggested that Brunson might have been trying to take the lead in that race, but his performance may have hindered his chances.
Currently, Brunson is averaging 27.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in the Finals, but his shooting percentages—37% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range—have left much to be desired. The Knicks seem to be straying from their winning formula, which had relied on Towns as the centerpiece of their offense during their impressive playoff run.
Barkley echoed Smith’s sentiments on Inside the NBA, stating, “The Knicks are falling back into their old habits, leaning too heavily on Brunson. When they were winning, they made sure to get KAT involved more, but that didn’t happen tonight.”
While some of the blame falls on Towns, who needed to step up during Brunson’s foul trouble, the Knicks still hold a 2-1 lead in the series and have home-court advantage. With a chance to regain momentum, they’ll look to bounce back in Game 4, set for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Madison Square Garden. Can the Knicks find their rhythm again, or will they continue to struggle?
