Madison Square Garden was filled with excitement as it hosted the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999. The New York Knicks entered the game with a 2-0 series lead against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were determined to turn the tide in this critical away game.
Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ star player, delivered an impressive performance to prevent a 0-3 series deficit. As the newly crowned NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he scored 32 points, made 11 out of 18 shots, and added eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and two steals. The Spurs secured a 115-111 victory on Monday night.
After the game, Wembanyama seemed focused on the win and initially missed his postgame interview with Lisa Salters. When he returned to the court, he praised his team and acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, “the hardest is still to come.” The interview gained attention online because Wembanyama’s 7-foot-4 height overshadowed Salters, making her nearly unseen in the frame.
Fans online had fun with the height difference between Wembanyama and Salters. One comment noted, “sis got her arm up like the statue of liberty and it’s still three feet below his mouth lololol.” Another suggested, “Someone get this woman a stool or something.” A fan jokingly compared the scene to “The Statue of Liberty is interviewing Wemby Lol.”
Spurs’ All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox made headlines when he interrupted, saying, “It’s midnight, man, let’s go!” This was a nod to Wembanyama’s serious approach to his evening routine. Following Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, Fox had shared insights into Wembanyama’s habits on NBC’s “NBA Showtime,” highlighting that Wembanyama avoids blue light, reads books, and wears blue light glasses after 9 PM.
Fox remarked, “Everything that you hear about Vic is true. He don’t wanna see blue light after 9 o’clock. He reads books. He’s not on his phone.” He continued, “When we have games that end close to midnight, he comes to the locker room with blue light glasses on. Like, ‘I gotta get ready to get my recovery.’ He’s a 22-year-old doing the things that he does, and he truly loves the game and truly takes care of his body.”
For the Spurs and Wembanyama, maintaining this focus will be crucial in their quest for the 2026 NBA Finals Championship. Winning against the Knicks, giving them their first loss since April 23, was a positive start. The Spurs aim to level the series in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.