NEW YORK — The New York Knicks were in position to take a commanding 3-0 NBA Finals series lead over the San Antonio Spurs with stellar play of OG Anunoby and the rest of New York’s supporting cast.

Anunoby was the star of the night, and the Knicks’ consistent contributor on a night Jalen Brunson once again started slow out the gate (2 of 7 in the first period).

The forward finished with 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field.

He even tried to play The Captain’s role of hero by draining a 3-pointer with 9.4 seconds remaining to shorten the Knicks’ deficit to three.

But his team didn’t get any closer than that, eventually dropping Game 3.

Brunson went 11 of 25 from the field in the 115-111 Game 3 loss.

A big reason for the loss? Brunson’s ineffectiveness throughout the night.

It’s the second consecutive night Captain Clutch couldn’t put together a performance the Madison Square Garden crowd had been used to for most of the 2025-26 season.

He finished Game 3 with 32 points, five rebounds and five assists. Towns, Bridges and Hart combined for 30 points.

At first, it looked like Anunoby would will his team to victory.

Each basket drew a huge applause from the championship-hungry Garden crowd, including his slam in the final minutes of the first half after blowing by unanimous Defensive Player of the Year Victory Wembanyama.

And the defense was worthy of a player that won First Team All-Defense. Anunoby, of course, was named to the second team last month.

Hart stayed out of foul trouble for the first time in this finals series. And Hart made the Spurs pay for leaving too much room on him from beyond the arc — a common theme this season. He made four 3-pointers on seven attempts, and converted on a couple more contested drives.

Towns again didn’t look small dealing with Victor Wembanyama. He did, though, get outmatched in the duel with the Spurs megastar logging 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Bridges had the least appealing night of the bunch: two points and five rebounds but was plus-11 in 29 minutes of action.

None of those players managed to generate a spark in hopes of yet another comeback victory.

The loss ended New York’s postseason win streak at 13.

The supporting cast that charged a sell-out Madison Square Garden crowd went out quietly as time dwindled in regulation.

There was no Brunson Burner. No Anunoby fourth-quarter spurt. And no Hart transition hustle play to cap a run.

Brunson, Anunoby and the rest of the Knicks will look to defend their home court in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

____

©2026 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.