Knicks' secret to winning Game 4 vs. Spurs is key bench player returning to form
· Yahoo Sports
There was one thing missing from the New York Knicks‘ performance during a Game 3 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs: their secret weapon Landry Shamet.
Shamet has come off the bench for the Knicks this season, playing for the veteran minimum of $3 million while averaging 23 minutes and 9.3 points per game. Through the first two games of the NBA Finals, Shamet was one of the key factors in New York gaining a 2-0 advantage, as the veteran guard totaled 13 points in each victory, helping fuel the Knicks’ offense as a complementary scorer.
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Shamet entered the third game of the series on an incredible run from behind the arc, where he had converted over 67 percent of his attempts in his previous eight games. He finished the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers shooting a stunning 91.7 percent from three-point range, which set a new NBA playoff series record among shooters with at least 10 three-point attempts in a single series.
However, in Game 3, Shamet netted just three points, with his lack of success directly leading to New York’s ultimate demise. For the Knicks to get back on track, it’s essential that they find a way to get Shamet back in the groove he was in early in the series.
Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks reacts during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)More: For Knicks to Win NBA Finals, They Must Solve Their Victor Wembanyama Problem
Shamet played 33 and 30 minutes in Games 1 and 2, respectively. But in Game 3, he was on the floor for just 23 minutes. That was likely due in part to his poor performance offensively, as he shot just 1 of 8 from the field, including a 1 of 7 mark from three. It was not a good outing for the eight-year pro.
“Give them credit,” said Shamet after the game. “They kicked our ass tonight. We’ve gotta bounce back.”
Shamet specifically needs to bounce back or else it could be another unwanted outcome for the orange and blue. The 29-year-old was a key figure throughout the Knicks’ 13-game playoff winning streak, averaging a solid eight points per game during that stretch.
It’s no mystery that Shamet’s contributions coincided with the team’s extended romp, which lasted 46 days before the Spurs defeated them on Monday night. And he must get back to being a thorn in his opponent’s side tonight, when Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. from Madison Square Garden.
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