Can Wembanyama Drag the Spurs Back? The Game 3 Win That Changed the Series

Two games into the 2026 NBA Finals, San Antonio looked overmatched. Then Victor Wembanyama reminded everyone why he is the most unique force in basketball, and the Spurs stole Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, 115-111. Suddenly a series that felt over is wide open — and the betting board is scrambling to catch up.

The Wembanyama effect

It is hard to overstate how much one player can warp a Finals. Wembanyama changes every shot at the rim, lets the Spurs switch everything on defense, and gives San Antonio a release valve when the offense stalls. When he is rolling, the Knicks’ drive-and-kick game loses its teeth — and a series that hinged on New York’s depth suddenly hinges on one 7-foot-4 problem.

The series-price question

Markets overreact to Game 3 wins. After New York’s 2-0 start, the Spurs’ series price was long. One win does not make them favourites — the Knicks still lead — but it may have created value that did not exist 48 hours earlier.

The best series bets are placed when the public is still pricing yesterday’s score.

The betting market angle

This is where series-price and live-series markets earn their keep. If you believe Wembanyama can swing two more games, the Spurs’ outright (which needs platform confirmation) may now carry value the public is slow to price. Prop angles — Wembanyama blocks/rebounds, Brunson scoring — stay live every night. The cleanest edges in a Finals usually come mid-series, not before Game 1.

The Insider verdict

New York remain favourites, and rightly so. But if you were ever going to take a shot on the Spurs, the window opened with Game 3 — not after it closes. Weigh it, don’t chase it, and bet within your limits.