Victor Wembanyama had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his first NBA Finals win to help the Spurs hit back against the New York Knicks.
San Antonio won 115-111 on Monday (Tuesday AEST) to cut New York's best-of-seven series lead to 2-1.
The Spurs handed the Knicks their first loss in 46 days and potentially salvaged their season in front of a Madison Square Garden crowd that included US President Donald Trump.
The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak, the second-longest in NBA post-season history, snapped and missed a chance to move to the brink of their first championship since 1973.
Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox hit big shots late as the Spurs avoided falling into a 3-0 hole, which no NBA team has escaped.
