After showing some jitters in the first two games of the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle stepped up in Game 3, scoring 23 points as the Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115-111, cutting their series deficit to 2-1.
Castle provided the necessary offensive spark to help the Spurs avoid a daunting 3-0 hole and keep the series competitive. With their first win already in the books, the 6-foot-6 guard expects his team to go all the way and capture the franchise’s sixth NBA title.
Stephon Castle Delivers Bold Prediction for Rest of NBA Finals
Castle was interviewed by ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Tuesday, one day after San Antonio won Game 3 over New York at Madison Square Garden. The 21-year-old’s clutch shooting from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line proved vital to Victor Wembanyama and Co. bouncing back from two consecutive tough home losses.
Andrews asked Castle whether he expects a similar result in Game 4, and he responded with a daring prediction that the NBA world will likely hold him to.
“I expect us to win the next three,” Castle said.
The second-year guard from UConn added that he would take the series one game at a time before admitting that losing the first two home contests was an “eye-opener” for the entire team.
“We don’t want it to be that way. We want to punch first and be on the front foot, but that’s the reality of it now,” Castle said. “So, just trying to take a game-by-game [approach], but yeah, we definitely expect to come into tomorrow and come out of here with a win.”
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Castle noted that despite allowing the Knicks to get “too many opportunities” by not making an “extra effort” to contain their offense, San Antonio managed to keep Games 1 and 2 close and “did a lot of good things.”
Castle then pointed out that he has immense confidence in his teammates, given what they have “shown all year.” Despite their inexperience, the Spurs overcame a 3-2 deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals.
Game 4 is on Wednesday at MSG, with San Antonio aiming to tie the series at 2-2 and New York seeking to take a commanding 3-1 lead in front of its rabid fan base.
