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After scoring 19 points on 50% shooting in a November 15 win over San Antonio, Reaves endured a three-game stretch in which he shot 12-of-41 from the field. While Saturday’s game did not produce the result Reaves and the Lakers hoped for, his snapping out of his shooting funk is one positive aspect of the defeat.

Brunson put together a complete game on Wednesday, posting series-highs in points, field-goal percentage, and assists, while totaling his fewest turnovers. He got going with a 15-point second quarter, which he carried over into a productive 17-point second half. But even without looking at the numbers, he came up big for the Knicks throughout the fourth quarter, especially late, as he made multiple big baskets to keep New York within striking distance before OG Anunoby’s game-winning shot. Brunson has now scored 30 or more points in three of the four games — he’ll have a chance for a fourth on Saturday.

Anunoby was stellar again, following a series-best 28-point performance with 33 points and a game-winning shot. The go-ahead basket came in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter when the Knicks trailed the Spurs 105-106. Jalen Brunson missed a deep three-pointer, which Anunoby tracked down and tipped in with 1.2 seconds remaining. Before the tip-in, the one-time NBA champion had an efficient 31 points, largely due to his seven threes. After trailing by as many as 29 points and completing the comeback, New York will have a chance to end the series and win a championship on Saturday.

While there were some rumblings that Bridges could be had for the right price at the February trade deadline, the veteran forward remained in Charlotte. However, that may not be the case this summer, based on Fischer’s reporting. Bridges is going into the final year of his contract, with a $22.8 million cap hit. Regarding the draft, the Hornets currently hold two first-round picks, 14th and 18th overall. Would Bridges plus a pick be an approach for the team to take if they wanted to move up? That will be something to keep an eye on, especially with Charlotte also rumored to be seeking an upgrade at the center position.

When asked about dealing with the pressure of being down 0-2, Wembanyama said that “this is what he’s built for.” He talked the talked and then walked the walk. It was exactly the type of performance the Spurs needed out of their superstar after digging themselves a big hole by dropping the first two games at home. They’ve won on the road throughout the postseason, including Game 7 against the defending champions in the series prior to this one. They did it again, and they’ll need to win at least one more in New York in order to win the series. The Spurs could even the series and reclaim homecourt advantage with a win in Game 4 on Thursday.

Brunson had his best offensive performance of the series, but that added success didn’t result in the Knicks getting another win. It was their first loss since Game 3 against the Hawks in the first round, making it one of the longest winning streaks in postseason history. Even though the streak is over, the Knicks still lead the series 2-1 and hold homecourt advantage in the series. Brunson was still able to make more magical plays at the end of the game, and they’ll need that to continue in Game 4 on Thursday if they want to get their first home win in the NBA Finals since 1999.

Hart got off to a strong start to this game and was pivotal in helping the Knicks stay afloat when the Spurs got off to a hot start and in helping New York take a halftime lead with a late run. However, he only scored three more points in the second half. He was still able to impact the game in other ways, but the hot shooting didn’t carry over. Still, he’ll continue to be one of the most impactful players in this series, even if it doesn’t always result in big scoring nights.

Landry Shamet played the role of offensive hero off the bench for the Knicks in Games 1 and 2, but it was Clarkson that filled that role in this one. He hit some big shots to keep the Knicks close, though it didn’t end up being enough for them to get the win. The veteran scorer is capable of getting hot when needed, but there is no guarantee he continues to produce to this level as the series continues.

Anunoby started this game off hot, scoring 17 points in the first half. He ended up having his highest-scoring performance since the first round, and he came up big late with a three-pointer with nine seconds left to bring the Knicks within two points. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a win, but the Knicks still lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in New York again on Thursday. Anunoby made plenty of impressive shots in this game, and they’ll need that high level shot-making to continue throughout the series.

After seemingly figuring things out by scoring 20 points in Game 2 following a rough Game 1 and subpar series against the Thunder, Fox’s struggles returned in this game. However, he was able to make some plays down the stretch, including a mid-range jumper with 12 seconds left to give the Spurs a five-point lead. They were able to hold on and get their first win of the series. Fox needs to be much better than he has been, so hopefully the 2023 Clutch Player of the Year hitting a big shot late will provide him some momentum moving forward.

The rookie has been incredible throughout the postseason, though he wasn’t able to match his shooting efficiency in this game. It was a rough shooting night for Harper, but that didn’t prevent the Spurs from securing their first win of the series. He’s been important to the team’s success, which isn’t common for a 20-year-old in the NBA Finals. The volume will increase as he ages, which should lead to some incredible fantasy seasons. For now, he’ll look to make an impact in his role as the series continues on Thursday.