NBA FINALS: KNICKS VS. SPURS

June 8, 2026

Dylan Harper

San Antonio Spurs

Game 3: Postgame

San Antonio Spurs 115, New York Knicks 111

Q. How important was this game?

DYLAN HARPER: I feel like everyone knew how important this game was. Our back was against the wall. Obviously, you don't want to go down three games. For us, every game is just as important, but this game you could kind of feel it.

Q. What clicked tonight in the fourth quarter?

DYLAN HARPER: I feel like our execution was a little better. I think we had lapses where myself, decision making, everyone, I feel like there are some decisions that we would take back and do differently. But I feel like we executed it the way we needed to.

Q. They had a little bit of momentum going into half. What changed for y'all defensively in the second half to kind of take the lead and hold on to it this time?

DYLAN HARPER: Yeah, we were in that same position last game. I feel like we didn't end the first half off well and I feel like the message is really like, “What we like?” and “Are we going to bounce back?” and “Are we going to learn from our mistakes from last game?” And we did.

Q. Why is there so much belief in what you do? Because you know every time you guys have lost, it's like, all we have to do is get back to playing our basketball?

DYLAN HARPER: I feel like the biggest thing for us is if we stay together, I feel like nothing can come in between that. I think we all kind of had that sort of desperation in the sense of just we all want to win so bad. At the end of the day, I feel like if we do the right thing for our brother, we’ll get the win

Q. Can you talk about the spacing and Victor being closer to the rim?

DYLAN HARPER: I think everyone on the floor I feel like can handle the ball. I feel like space is the biggest thing, to give people driving lanes and one-on-ones and just making opportunities.

Q. When you, Steph and De'Aaron are on the court, how is it to play with the two other ball handers?

DYLAN HARPER: It's great. I mean, it takes pressure off of all of us, and I feel like it opens the world up for everyone. Obviously we got two great ball handlers on the floor, and with Vic, I mean it's pretty hard to stop.

Q. You talked about learning from your mistakes. What were the biggest improvements?

DYLAN HARPER: It won't show up on a box score, but I feel like our togetherness and our willingness just to keep fighting through, I think that was the biggest thing for us. Not getting too down on ourselves and kind of just bouncing back when they make runs.

Q. How was the atmosphere at MSG? Was it more than what you expected?

DYLAN HARPER: Yeah, definitely. MSG was loud. Every celebrity from New York that you could think of was here. Every celebrity from around the world you could think of was here. Every actor, every old professional player was here. It was definitely something that you know you walk out and you're like, “Yeah, we made it,” and now we just had to focus on the game.

Q. Do you pay attention when they announce celebrities?

DYLAN HARPER: I feel like it's human to look up. It's hard not to. The place gets loud for every celebrity. So yeah, definitely. I feel like you pay attention to that, but at the end of the day you're just trying to focus on winning.

Q. Was it also thrilling to have like the entire arena rooting for the Knicks? I don't think there were so many Spurs fans tonight.

DYLAN HARPER: We're in New York. I think we all kind of anticipated that it was going be just like that, if not worse. I feel like we kind of got a little taste of that in San Antonio with all the people that traveled, and I feel like we came in with the mindset of “it's us against the world.” We kind of went in with the right mindset.