The New York Knicks had the chance to gain major momentum with a Game 3 win; however, the San Antonio Spurs did enough to claim their first victory of the 2026 NBA Finals. While the win remained the highlight of the night, another major storyline centered around the referees, which even caught Draymond Green’s attention.
The Knicks lost to the Spurs in the first NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden since 1999. The contest was close, with New York falling 115-111. The officiating crew consisted of Marc Davis, John Goble, and Curtis Blair, with Nick Buchert serving as the alternate referee. Their performance quickly became a talking point.
However, Green believed the officials weren’t to blame for the Knicks’ loss; rather, the team was responsible for its own downfall. Speaking on ESPN’s ‘Inside the NBA’ after the game, the Golden State Warriors star said, “The referees usually side with the more aggressive team.” He then suggested that the Spurs gained an advantage courtesy of their 7-foot-4 star’s strong start to the game.
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“Victor Wembanyama started the game 3 of their first 4 possessions he had dunks. All series long when Victor Wembanyama has rolled it’s been like bumper cars,” said Green. The four-time NBA champion believes Wemby received lobs from his teammates that helped him score, unlike in the previous games when he would get fouled by Knicks players.
Green continued, “So I blame the Knicks for that. If you’re aggressive, if you’re not letting him roll to the rim, then they’re not penetrating to get to the basket and they’re not getting more foul calls.” Having played in 152 playoff games throughout 14 NBA seasons, Green’s comments carry extra weight.
However, Knicks head coach Mike Brown had no sympathy for the officials, as he spent nearly five minutes discussing the referees during the post-game press conference. The Spurs received 32 free throws compared to the Knicks’ 22. The free-throw numbers over the series now stand at 64-for-87 for San Antonio, while New York has gone 50-for-61 from the line.
The physical Game 3 also saw Jalen Brunsonreceive a Flagrant 1 foul for a “reckless closeout” on Julian Champagnie. But unlike his coach, the Knicks star acknowledged that his team was physical. “We were definitely fouling a lot,” said Brunson. While the Knicks lost the game, Brunson continued his hot form by adding 32 points to the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, Wembanyama also scored 32 points while adding eight rebounds and six assists. With the Spurs now just one win away from leveling the series, Brunson and the Knicks can work on the advice and scrutiny they received from Green.
