Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to a win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. By snapping the Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak, the Spurs have kept their title hopes alive and are now looking to build momentum as they chase three more wins to win the championship.
Meanwhile, there is growing speculation across the league that the Milwaukee Bucks could delay any final decision on a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade until after the NBA Finals. The timing is believed to be tied to how the Knicks ultimately finish the series after building an early 2-0 lead.
“Also: There is an increasing belief leaguewide that they would prefer to wait until after the NBA Finals before completing a deal to see if the Knicks end up squandering a 2-0 series lead,” NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein wrote. “Might the Knicks then decide to re-enter the Giannis Trade Sweepstakes in response to the disappointment of letting the title slip away?”
Wembanyama delivered a sensational all-around performance, finishing with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks as the Spurs secured a 115-111 Game 3 upset win in New York. He is currently averaging 29.0 points per game in the NBA Finals, which ranks as the fifth-highest scoring average in Finals history.
If Wembanyama continues this level of dominance and leads the Spurs to three more victories, it could reshape the league picture, including how the Knicks approach their long-term plans involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, recent reporting from Brian Windhorst and Sam Amick says the Miami Heat have become serious frontrunners in the race to land the Bucks superstar, with Miami believed to have one of the strongest trade packages available. Bucks insider Jim Owczarski has also indicated that Miami may currently hold the edge.
Antetokounmpo is reportedly open to staying in the Eastern Conference and has shown interest in a potential move to Miami.