Lil Durk remains in jail despite his Friday acquittal.
On 11 September, a Los Angeles federal jury found the rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, not guilty of orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of a man in Los Angeles four years ago.
Prosecutors have confirmed he will remain in custody until his racketeering case, tied to the 2022 shooting death of Stephon Mack, is also resolved. That second trial on racketeering murder and firearms charges is scheduled for 5 October.
Longtime nemesis and fellow rapper 6ix9ine found a way to throw shade at Durk despite Chicago rapper's win in court.
6ix9ine had planned to throw a 'Lil Durk Going Away Party' in the event of a guilty verdict, and still held a celebration of sorts.
Posting a video on Instagram of him letting off fireworks and popping champagne, he reacted to the decision while mocking Durk about his deceased brother, Dontay 'DThang' Banks, and rapper King Von, who was signed to Durk's label, Only the Family.

#found

San Antonio has already seen its young core make a deep playoff run, but the work behind that rise does not stop when the game ends. The Spurs have built a system in which young players can learn from coaches, veterans, and former stars who understand what it takes to win in San Antonio.
That connection matters even more for Stephon Castle, who went from a rookie trying to find his place to one of the team's main guards in just two seasons. Now, he is starting to see what the Spurs' history can mean for the group trying to build the next chapter.
Castle views playing for San Antonio as more than a chance to wear one of the league's most recognizable jerseys. The franchise has produced generations of stars, and many of those players still stay close to the organization and its current roster.
"It's a blessing to play for an organization like that," Castle said, describing what it means to play for the Spurs. He also pointed to the people who came before him and the way they continue to stay involved with the team.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) holds the ball as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

#SPURS #stephon #young #game

Stephon Castle showcases his gratitude for the Spurs legends' impactful support originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Across the NBA, there are plenty of iconic franchises. One of them is the San Antonio Spurs, a team with a history of success. They have won five championships in their time in the NBA, and their legends continue to stick around and help the next generation.
People like Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, David Robinson, and many more are always present for the Spurs. This has helped the younger players because they know that they have some mentors to go to when they need help.
For any Spurs player, they will become familiar with the older figures within the organization who have been there for a long time. Of course, Gregg Popovich is probably the most recognizable one, as he is still the team president.
Mitch Johnson might have taken over as the head coach, but Pop still has an impact and influence on the players. Youngsters like Castle and Dylan Harper are benefiting from this because they know they have mentors to look up to.

#sporting #team #Help

Charles Barkley, a former NBA player, believes the San Antonio Spurs have a promising future. The Spurs already have Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-4 superstar who is at the center of the team's foundation. They also have De'Aaron Fox, a promising backcourt star veteran. In the franchise's recent postseason run, however, two youngsters took the spotlight.
Along with Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper demonstrated that they can contribute to the Spurs' promising future. During San Antonio's playoff run, Castle averaged 18.2 points, the second-most points on the team. Harper, meanwhile, averaged 14.1 points per game, the most from a player off the bench.
Jun 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; NBA TV ***** yst Charles Barkley talks on set before game three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Charles Barkley issued a stern warning to other NBA backcourt players regarding their postseason performance during his recent appearance on "The Bill Simmons Show". Barkley also compared the Spurs' young guards to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
Those two guards, I don't want to see them for the next 10 years if I'm a guard in the NBA," Barkley said. "Harper and Castle, if I'm a guard in the NBA, I do not want to see them boys for the next 10 years. They're gonna be the new Steph and Klay."

#SPURS #charles #castle #points

Charles Barkley has often made bold NBA predictions and comparisons, but his most recent one is especially noteworthy. During an interview with Bill Simmons, the NBA legend claimed he has found a duo that could be the NBA's next Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
"First of all, those two guards, I don't want to see them for the next 10 years if I'm a guard in the NBA," Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast about the Spurs' young backcourt in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
"If I'm a guard in the NBA, I do not want to see them, boys, for the next 10 years. They're going to be the best. They're going to be the new Steph and Klay."
Stephon Castle ended 2025-26 averaging 17.0 points, 7.1 ******* ists, and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 46.8% from the field and 33.7% from behind the three-point line in 91 games (including the playoffs).
Meanwhile, Dylan Harper averaged 12.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 ******* ists in 2025-26 while shooting 50.7% from the field and 34.0% from beyond the arc, including the playoffs, in 92 games, mostly coming off the bench.

#castle

Seven weeks ago, Victor Wembanyama did his franchise a favor. The 22-year-old center and the Spurs agreed to a massive five-year contract extension, albeit one that will pay him about $50 million less than he might have received if he sought the largest contract allowed by the NBA.
The significance of that discount can be hard to process. After all, to a hard-working stiff, the gap between making $252 million and $303 million is a lot like the gap between taking a rocket ship to the moon and one to Mars. Most of us recognize there's a difference, but we'll never come close to experiencing it firsthand.
In the realm of NBA team-building, though, salary-cap savings of $10 million per year can turn losses into victories. Theoretically, signing Wembanyama at that lower price point could enable the Spurs to add an extra veteran once extensions for Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper kick in. It might allow them to keep De'Aaron Fox an extra year.
And if the Spurs play their cards right? Playoff trips that might otherwise have ended in the conference semifinals in 2028, 2029 or 2030 might turn into league championships, all because they had a little more flexibility to operate under the NBA's punitive luxury-tax aprons.
So it's possible to see how Wembanyama's sacrifice might pay off. In fact, they just lost in the NBA Finals to a New York Knicks team that benefited from a similar contract discount by their star player, Jalen Brunson.

#year #SPURS #contract #wembanyama

Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle & Dylan Harper listed as early frontrunners for major NBA awards originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dynasties don't just appear out of nowhere in the NBA. They are built over years of front-office hiring, coaching staff revamps, offseason acquisitions, strong drafting, and player development. This is exactly what the San Antonio Spurs did. For the 2026-27 NBA season, every member of their organization will be awarded. ESPN projects Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and even Coach Mitch Johnson as frontrunners for major awards.
ESPN just unveiled its Summer Forecast, and a lot of Spurs are expected to take home hardware in major NBA awards. Let's break them down, starting with Stephon Castle. Projections posit that the incoming third-year player will become the frontrunner for the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award.
1. Stephon Castle
34 points

#castle #major #dylan #harper

At 21 years old, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle is one of the league's most exciting young talents. Throughout his first two NBA seasons, the former UConn guard has a Rookie of the Year Award and an NBA Finals appearance to his name. Last season, Castle averaged 16.7 points, 7.4 **** ists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks.
However, there are two things between Castle and an ascension into superstardom. Turnovers are one of those, as Castle averaged 3.2 giveaways per game last year. Another has been 3-point shooting. Although Castle's 33.2% mark from 3-point range was an improvement from his rookie campaign (28.5%), the third-year guard still has some room for improvement.
Luckily for Spurs fans, Castle has been working tirelessly on his jump shot this summer. Castle's trainer, Olin Simplis, recently spoke about Castle's process this summer, saying, "With Steph, it's also about making sure that we create the proper energy and synergy on every rep. He's such a high-volume guy defensively that sometimes his sequence in his shooting patterns is off. So I think fatigue sets in. If you don't have the proper energy from the ground through your shot line, sometimes the ball reaches the pocket later than it's supposed to during your sequence."
If Castle can shoot near league average from 3-point range (35-36%), he'll be able to cement himself not only as a premiere two-way talent but also as a three-level scoring threat.
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:

#castle #guard #last

Why have those areas been Stephon's off-season focus? Simplis: "Obviously, shooting overall in the NBA is at a premium. But with Steph, it's also about making sure that we create the proper energy and synergy on every rep. He's such a high-volume guy defensively that sometimes his sequence in his shooting patterns is off. So I think fatigue sets in. If you don't have the proper energy from the ground through your shot line, sometimes the ball reaches the pocket later than it's supposed to during your sequence. We wanted the ball in the shot line while his hips are still in a bent position.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Obviously, shooting overall in the NBA is at a …

#shooting #sometimes #line

The Los Angeles Rams placed two players on injured reserve on Monday, and signed two more at the same positions to compete for a role with the team this season. The Rams placed cornerback Zech McPhearson and linebacker Keir Thomas on IR, while signing cornerback Steven Gilmore and linebacker Devean Deal to take their places.
In addition, guard Justin Dedich passed a physical and could be on a track to return to the team soon after dealing with a hand injury.
Rams signed CB Steven Gilmore and OLB Devean Deal, put CB Zech McPhearson and OLB Keir Thomas on IR and waived ILB Daniel Rickert, the team announced. OL Justin Dedich, who was on non-football injury list because of a hand injury, passed physical.
Deal played at Tulane and TCU prior to going undrafted in the 2026 draft. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks but was waived in May.
Gilmore went undrafted in 2023 after a career with Marshall. He has spent time in the NFL with the Lions and Cardinals, plus two stints with the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL. He is the younger brother of Stephon Gilmore.

#deal #team

The shooting guard position is filled with versatility.
There are elite scorers such as Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker. And there are also elite defenders in the mix such as Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson and Derrick White.
In this article, I'll be ranking the top 10 shooting guards entering the 2026-27 season. The order was determined by multiple factors such as individual success last season, injury concerns, player trajectory and contributions to winning.
Let's get into it:
NBA position rankings: Point guard

#season

The shooting guard position is filled with versatility.
There are elite scorers such as Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell and Devin Booker. And there are also elite defenders in the mix such as Stephon Castle, Amen Thompson and Derrick White.
In this article, I'll be ranking the top 10 shooting guards entering the 2026-27 season. The order was determined by multiple factors such as individual success last season, injury concerns, player trajectory and contributions to winning.
Let's get into it:
NBA position rankings: Point guard

#guard

Chris Paul recalls the shock he felt from Victor Wembanyama's past as an academy player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
During one year with the San Antonio Spurs, Chris Paul became a valuable mentor for his younger teammates. He was by far the oldest player on the roster, so he was naturally the leader the players turned to for advice.
The biggest beneficiaries of that were the youngsters from the 2024-25 Spurs team: Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. In fact, Wembanyama always hung out with Paul, as they even went to France to train. Wemby himself told Paul about his past as an academy player, which left Paul gobsmacked.
As a player who grew up in the United States, Paul had an established path to the NBA. That is playing through high school, getting recruited to play college basketball, and then getting drafted to the NBA. That has been a long-standing path to the league, but the rise of international players has shown there are other ways to reach the NBA.
For a long time, European players have made their way to becoming top players by grinding it out in the EuroLeague and other leagues around the world. In recent years, many European players have gone through the academy system, which helps develop younger athletes to become the best versions of themselves.

#players

Carter Bryant admits he was not surprised by Victor Wembanyama's contract decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Victor Wembanyama was eligible for a five-year contract extension worth $303 million. However, he took a significant pay cut, as he opted for a 25% rookie-scale maximum, which is worth $252 million.
While it is still a massive number, taking a $51 million discount gives the San Antonio Spurs improved salary cap flexibility, which helps them build the best team possible moving forward.
The Spurs were close to one of the most impressive runs in recent memory. Unfortunately, they lost in the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in five games. It was not the best result, but it was a promising run.
With the likes of Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, the future is bright for the Spurs. This also includes Carter Bryant, who seems to fit the right mold of a wing player that the Spurs need in the long run.

Draymond Green is reportedly declining his $27.7 million option with the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
The move allows Green to enter the free-agent market, but it also affords the Warriors to do a longer-term deal with Green at a lesser annual value, giving them the flexibility to pursue LeBron James in free agency and Washington Wizards center Anthony Davis via trade to potentially create a new veteran-heavy, star-filled lineup around Stephon Curry and Green, ESPN reported.
This story will be updated.

One team standing out in potential trade for Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox after horrendous NBA Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Among all of the speculation that the San Antonio Spurs could look to move on from point guard De'Aaron Fox, there are certain teams around the NBA that make a lot more sense to trade for the former All-Star than others.
While Fox had a rough playoff series, I think it's important that Spurs fans and the front office look at his whole body of work, which suggests that he's still an above-average player. The only thing I can agree with is that moving on from Fox would make sense because of Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
Regardless, it would take two teams to make a trade if the Spurs decide to go that route, and according to a writer at The Athletic, a few teams could make sense. One of them he brought up was the Phoenix Suns, who recently re-signed Collin Gillespie, so a deal would make more sense around Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, or some pairing of Green, Allen, and Royce O'Neale.
"Here's the team that I think you can very easily make a case for doing this: Phoenix. Phoenix probably wants a point guard. I know that they could easily re-sign Colin Gillespie, but Colin Gillespie can be like an elite sixth man in the NBA," Sam Vecenie said. "You could pretty easily do something around like Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, or you could do Jalen Green and Royce O'Neale."

Isaiah Thomas sparked debates online with his big claim on Sunday. The two-time All-Star guard said that the San Antonio Spurs would’ve won the NBA championship if they still had Chris Paul.
“The Point God” signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Spurs in 2024. However, Paul agreed to terms to return to the Los Angeles Clippers the following year for the final season of his career. San Antonio reached the Finals this past season but lost to the New York Knicks in five games.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama still holds the future of the NBA in his hands
““I believe if they had Chris Paul on this roster, they would’ve won the finals,” Thomas said on the “Point Game Pod.” “His experience and who he is would’ve helped De’Aaron Fox, (Stephon) Castle, (Dylan) Harper.”
The 37-year-old received backlash from fans for his take.

Isaiah Thomas believes Chris Paul staying could've won the **** le for the Spurs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025-26 season had some amazing stories, but one of the best was the San Antonio Spurs' sudden rise to become a championship contender. With Victor Wembanyama at the forefront, the Spurs went from missing the Playoffs the previous year to reaching the NBA Finals.
It was a superb season for the Spurs, but they ended up disappointed because they lost in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks. During that NBA Finals series, it seemed the Spurs lacked veteran leadership, which they had the season before with Chris Paul.
During the 2024-25 season, it looked like the Spurs were on the rise. They had a promising first half of the season, but it was all ruined when Wembanyama suffered the blood clots that forced him to sit out the rest of the season.
In that first half, it was clear that the Spurs had a bright future with Wembanyama and Stephon Castle leading the way. They also had a tremendous leader in the locker room with Paul.

The narrative surrounding the Spurs’ surprising postseason run was how a team with so little experience could go so far. For four of their five starters, the 2026 run to the NBA Finals was their first taste of any playoff action.
The Spurs managed to mask their inexperience with dominant play over the course of three series; however, against the Knicks, their youth became too hard to ignore.
In each of the Knicks’ four victories in the Finals, the Spurs blew double-digit leads. Their hot starts were quickly extinguished by the time the second half rolled around.
The Spurs struggled the most at critical points in games. In clutch time during the playoffs, they went 3-8, including 0-5 at home. They lost all three of their home games in the Finals and blew a 29-point lead in Game 4.
Key stretches proved costly to a team that had a chance to win every game they lost in the Finals. Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle’s miscommunication at the end of Game 2, when the score was tied 104-104, turned out to be catastrophic. Wembanyama dished a pass to Castle a second too late, as Castle had turned his back and begun jogging up the court.

The New York Knicks aren’t just NBA champions, they’re a lesson in perseverance. Proof positive why you should never quit on your team, no matter how dark it gets, no matter how bleak the future seems, no matter how much an owner tries to push you away. James Dolan’s name might be on the papers, but Saturday night proved that the Knicks don’t belong to him — they belong to New York.
It’s impossible not to love the scenes from New York following the Knicks’ breaking their 53-year championship drought. Did the celebration go too far? Sure. Did it turn the streets into anarchy? Absolutely. Did it closely resemble the Joker’s clown parade in Batman Returns? It sure did. It was also magical, inspiring, and reminded us how powerful sports can be, even as we become jaded in the face of ticket scalpers, political movements, and greedy owners who put their own motivations ahead of a city. When the dust settles, it’s about simply this: A small group of individuals who came together as a team, to bring joy to millions who have invested their heart and souls into loving a team their entire lives. People who said “this could be our year” more times than they could count, and when it comes to the NBA there is not a single more passionate, longer-suffering fanbase than the New York Knicks.
No doubt there would have been joy in San Antonio too, but it would have hit different. All due respect to Spurs fans, but even y’all have to admit that your franchise has had a horseshoe lodged up your derriere for the better part of 30 years. From drafting Tim Duncan during David Robinson’s ONE injury year to winning the Wemby sweepstakes, it just wouldn’t have been satisfying to see another Spurs win. Moreover, San Antonio is a competent, sensible organization run like a successful business — it’s not the Knicks, where fans have had to endure James Dolan’s whims at every turn, doing his level best to destroy the organization from within while playing a piano solo in his nepo band.
Dolan and the Knicks have given fans HUNDREDS of reasons to pack it in over the years. I don’t know how Spike Lee managed to endure the pain for as long as he did — but not just the pain, the promise. The possibility that Patrick Ewing, and John Starks would win a **** le, then if Stephon Marbury and Allan Houston could get the job done, then Carmelo, Amare, and J.R. Smith. Fans continually experience the yo-yo whiplash of made that make them believe, before seeing opportunity get yanked away, like a cat toy from a desperate tabby. They’ve seen brilliant teams under the guidance of Jeff Van Gundy, Mike D’Antoni, and Tom Thibodeau all establish specific eras of Knicks disappointment, which makes it all the more magical right now.
This Knicks team was so decidedly un-Knicks. Jalen Brunson is obviously a superstar, but this team was defined by doubt, not promise. **** ody believed Karl-Anthony Towns was good enough to be a focal point, Mickal Bridges was an overpaid addition; heck, Mike Brown wa

Stephon Marbury unloaded on Victor Wembanyama after the San Antonio Spurs star’s controversial Game 3 shove on Jalen Brunson went uncalled at Madison Square Garden.
The New York Knicks were already frustrated by the 115-111 loss, but the officiating conversation made the night feel even more heated.
One first-quarter moment between Brunson and Wembanyama became a flashpoint because no whistle came.
Marbury, a former Knicks guard and two-time NBA All-Star, did not hold back while discussing how he would want New York to respond after reviewing the play.
New York Basketball shared Stephon Marbury’s reaction to Victor Wembanyama’s physical exchange with Jalen Brunson during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

At a glance, San Antonio's 3-point efficiency in Game 3 — 12-for-34, 35.3% — doesn't jump off the page. In fact, over the course of the NBA Finals, the Spurs are converting just over 11 3s per game at a 32.1% clip, figures that would rank 26th and dead last during the regular season.
However, it's not simply what outside shots the Spurs are generating that's given them an olive branch in this series after they cut the Knicks' lead to 2-1 following Game 3's 115-111 win. It's how those are being generated, a result of personnel, decision-making and ***** ing — all of which are intended to maximize Victor Wembanyama's presence — that's quietly changing how this matchup is viewed, particularly when both Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are on the floor.
Prior to the start of the Finals, we observed an oddity surrounding Vassell and Champagnie's joint efficiency. For seven grueling games against the defending champions, there was never a game in which both shooters finished better than 40% from deep, together. The lack of consistency allowed Oklahoma City's aggressive, funneling defense to take more risks than required, essentially conceding outside shots in favor of a complete erasure in the middle of the floor.
In Game 1, the Knicks picked up where the Thunder left off. Champagnie was effective, hitting five 3s at a 50% clip, but his partner Vassell struggled, missing all but one of his six attempts. In Game 2, however, their fortunes improved. The Spurs still lost the game (off the back, literally, of one of the wildest sequences in recent Finals history), but Vassell and Champagnie finished with 43% and 40% marks, respectively.
Game 3 was a continuation of San Antonio's shooting success pertaining to those two, Vassell connecting on 75% of his 3s and Champagnie at 43%. It comes as no surprise that San Antonio's best-performing lineup in terms of shot quality on Monday — a +17 in 19 possessions — was also their most-used lineup, featuring both Vassell and Champagnie. The improved and concerted playmaking prowess from Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox worked in tandem with the Spurs premier shooters to maximize efficiency."

Shannon Sharpe praised Stephon Castle’s talent after the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 3 win, but he also made clear that the rookie guard still has mistakes to cut out.
The Spurs needed that kind of performance at Madison Square Garden. Down 2-0 in the NBA Finals, San Antonio had to survive a loud New York Knicks crowd, Donald Trump’s security-heavy visit, and a late push from Jalen Brunson’s team.
Castle helped the Spurs do that, but his night was not clean enough for Sharpe to ignore. The former NFL star saw a young player with huge upside, and also a few decisions that could have made the win harder than it needed to be.
Shannon Sharpe on X reacted to Stephon Castle’s Game 3 performance after the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden.
“Castle is a phenomenal player and will only get better. He plays really dumb basketball at times,” Sharpe said.

The San Antonio Spurs lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals in the closing moments, and much of the blame was placed on Victor Wembanyama, who committed two costly mistakes that led to the 105-104 loss. He turned the ball over to New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson and then sent him to the free-throw line with a foul.
Brunson made one of three free throws, giving his team the lead and ultimately securing the victory.
It was a different story in Game 3, as the Spurs won 115-111 to cut the series deficit to 2-1. Wembanyama played an outstanding game, finishing with 32 points. The Spurs’ late-game execution was also much improved, allowing them to protect their lead through heads-up play.
Wembanyama praised two teammates who played key roles in that effort. Stephon Castle hit a clutch three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining to extend the Spurs’ lead to seven. However, the Knicks responded when Jalen Brunson knocked down a three-pointer to trim the deficit to three with 33 seconds left.
De’Aaron Fox then scored on a two-pointer to restore a five-point cushion, but OG Anunoby made it a one-possession game again, 113-111, with nine seconds remaining.

Victor Wembanyama is the biggest thorn in the New York Knicks’ quest for their first ****** le since 1973, and players and fans experienced that in Game 3 when the visiting San Antonio Spurs secured the victory.
Wembanyama and his teammates cut the series deficit to 2–1 after dropping the first two games at the Frost Bank Center. The French superstar showed how much of a threat he can be on both ends of the floor, scoring 32 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out six ****** ists. He also made his presence felt defensively with two steals and three blocks.
His all-around performance benefited his teammates as well, with the rest of the starting lineup scoring in double figures. Dylan Harper added 13 points off the bench.
The second-best Spurs scorer was Stephon Castle, who finished with 23 points. Wembanyama and Castle also made NBA Finals history, according to ESPN.
The Spurs played great. Coach Mike Brown emphasized that. However, it did not help them that his own players were not as fluid like in Game 1 and Game 2 victories. Karl-Anthony Towns, the hero in the first two wins, was contented to 11 points and eight rebounds. Jalen Brunson had 32 points.

Editor's Note: Click here for live coverage and all the latest news from Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.
The New York Knicks fans are not above letting the officials know how they feel about anything.
In the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle ran over New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson as a shot attempt went up and he tried to maneuver in for a rebound.
The officials reviewed the play during a timeout and determined that no further action was needed, other than a loose-ball foul on Castle.
But the Knicks faithful let it be known they were not pleased, with chants such as "bulls---," and “refs you suck”, that had the censors clearly napping on the job as it came through loud and clear on the broadcast on ABC.

The Knicks' practice-day media session at Madison Square Garden welcomed two unexpected guests on Sunday: New York City legends Fat Joe and Jadakiss.
Fat Joe arrived with a message for a fan base that spent much of the last two decades directing its frustrations at Knicks owner James Dolan.
The Bronx-born rapper believes Dolan deserves far more credit than he's received.
"Shoutout to Mr. Dolan. Greatest team owner in the game," Fat Joe said. "Very misunderstood. They villainize Mr. Dolan almost like a Bruce Wayne, like Batman in Gotham City because he's an elite. But this man: All these watch parties. That man's taking care of us."
For years, Dolan's name became synonymous with the Knicks' dysfunction. He presided over failed eras built around stars such as Stephon Marbury, Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, while championship expectations routinely gave way to disappointment. But with the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Dolan is experiencing something unfamiliar: public praise.

In 1993, Chris Webber called a timeout he didn’t have in the NCAA championship game. In 2018, JR Smith forgot the score in Game 1 of the Finals. While what happened with 12.7 seconds left on Friday night in San Antonio is not quite at that level, but it will be replayed for a long time regardless.
With the score tied at 104-104, Victor Wembanyama grabbed his ninth rebound off a Jalen Brunson miss and immediately looked to push. What the cameras caught in that same instant was Stephon Castle waving him down, trying to tell Wembanyama to slow up, to give him **** e to operate. Wembanyama took one dribble and fired a pass that bounced directly off Castle’s back. Brunson scooped it up, drew the foul, and made the free throw that decided the series-threatening 105-104 loss. Castle explained afterward what he was doing in that moment:
“I didn’t see him throw it to me. I see Vic has the ball, tie game. I was just trying to give Vic **** e.”
The play wasn’t a freak accident. It was the product of a player whose game-speed processing failed him at the worst possible moment and a pattern, however nascent, is starting to form.
In Game 1, Wembanyama shot 6-of-21 and coughed it up six times. He was better in Game 2, shooting 11-of-21 and showing far more composure for 39 minutes and 50 seconds. The final ten seconds are what the series will remember.

How Victor Wembanyama pass off Stephon Castle's back led to disastrous Game 2 loss for Spurs vs. Knicks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Antonio Spurs came storming back in potentially series-changing fashion in Game 2 of the NBA Finals -- but one massive miscue ended all that momentum.
As a motivated Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs back from a double-digit deficit against the Knicks in the fourth quarter, San Antonio appeared poised to get a shot at a game-winner with fewer than 10 seconds remaining.
But when Wembanyama looked to advance the ball to guard Stephon Castle, who was turned the other way, the momentum swung back in the Knicks' favor for the night's most critical play. The Spurs now trail the series 0-2 heading on the road.
Here's a look at the costly communication mistake between Wembanyama and Castle that led to the Spurs' Game 2 loss.

The Knicks proved that Wednesday's 105-95 Game 1 win at the San Antonio Spurs was no fluke, doubling down in Friday's 105-104 Game 2 victory and taking a commanding 2-0 lead as the NBA Finals heads to New York.
Karl-Anthony Towns was the best player on the floor, continuing his dominance of Victor Wembanyama. Whether New York pushed ahead against San Antonio or ended the Spurs' momentum -- the Knicks faced a largest deficit of 12 points, 37-25, after Stephon Castle's triple at the second quarter's 11:32 mark -- Towns was a common denominator on both ends. Towns scored 17 of his 21 points in the first half, including a corner trey with 10 seconds before halftime to give New York a 56-52 lead at the break. He was the X factor, bringing physicality and energy from the jump while Wembanyama struggled to get going until the second half.
Alongside Towns, Mikal Bridges stepped up in a development that especially mattered while Towns hit foul trouble and Jalen Brunson struggled shooting. Bridges blossomed after nine points two days ago, scoring 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a 4-for-6 clip from deep. Among other moments, Bridges' jumper at the third quarter's 1:15 mark pushed the Knicks ahead 82-73 and ******* isted an alley-oop dunk to Mitchell Robinson on the ensuing New York possession to create an 8-1 run into the 35-second point. Wembanyama ended the spurt on a field goal with 19 seconds left to keep the Knicks' lead at single digits, 84-75, entering the fourth quarter but not before New York's momentum was apparent.
As mentioned, Brunson was not himself from the field, posting a 7-of-25 mark. He found his spots for timely buckets, but the Spurs were physical with him early and kept the Knicks' leader out of sorts. For Brunson to have that type of game and New York still dominate San Antonio on the road speaks volumes about where the team is at entering Games 3 and 4. Brunson's five points in the final two minutes of the game, including the decisive free throw on a 1-of-2 trip to the line, should also not be discounted.
Landry Shamet's return to the Knicks for the 2025-26 season is perhaps the move of the past offseason. Shamet, as he has been in spots throughout his second year with the franchise, was nails for New York off the bench. Shamet scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes, including two triples to start the fourth quarter and maintain the Knicks' 12- and eight-point leads, 87-75 and 90-82.