The NBA Finals Return to Madison Square Garden

And, well, Landry Shamet came back down to reality.

As Game 3 of the NBA Finals unfolded, Shamet was riding a significant wave of momentum, having established a record-setting streak of three-pointers in eight straight playoff games, the longest in postseason history. This impressive run followed a time when he was, surprisingly, left out of the rotation during the first round.

However, Mike Brown’s go-to bench player finally faced the music, scoring only three points on 1-of-8 shooting in the Knicks’ 115-111 defeat to the Spurs on Monday night.

Shamet hit just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc, a stark contrast to his nearly 68 percent shooting from three-point range over the previous eight games. He had posted at least 13 points in his last four outings, so this performance was unexpected.

“We had some great looks, but also some not-so-great moments,” Shamet reflected, finishing with a minus-20 rating—the lowest on the team. “It’s about the process, not just the results. What’s really eating at me are those defensive lapses I was proud of previously. There were possessions we just didn’t handle well. That’s something we can fix. Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in when you expect it to.”

Teammates Jordan Clarkson (10 points, 3 rebounds) and Jose Alvarado (4 points, 3 rebounds) brought some energy off the bench, but Shamet, along with Miles McBride, who didn’t register a point in his nine minutes, fell short, contributing to the Knicks’ first loss since late April.

Shamet did manage a three-pointer late in the third quarter that narrowed the gap to two points, but in the final minutes, he faltered, missing three shots, including one that was forced and clunky, prompting groans from the fans in the usually enthusiastic Madison Square Garden.

“They came out with adjustments and played more aggressively,” Shamet acknowledged. “They simply outplayed us, and we need to regroup.”

“We’ve got to take a good look at ourselves and make improvements, and I believe we will. It’s reassuring to know we can work on our game. I’m optimistic for Game 4.”

This offers Shamet another significant opportunity to shine in a pivotal match for the Knicks, adding another chapter to his evolving narrative.

The atmosphere in Game 3? Shamet described it vividly: “It felt like Mars. New York was electric, full of energy. Sure, we didn’t get the win for our fans, but we’ll bounce back and be better next time.”