NBA Finals Injury Report: Castle and Robinson Cleared for Pivotal Game 3

The grueling 82-game NBA regular season and the physical gauntlet of the playoffs usually leave teams battered by the time June arrives. Yet, as the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks prepare for a pivotal Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, both rosters are boasting a remarkably clean bill of health. With the Knicks currently holding a 2-0 series lead, the lack of major absences ensures that the championship will be decided by pure execution rather than a war of attrition.[1][4][5]

The biggest health scare of the series thus far occurred midway through the fourth quarter of Game 2. San Antonio's second-year standout Stephon Castle landed awkwardly on the foot of New York's Mikal Bridges, immediately going down in visible discomfort. Castle headed to the bench with 6:45 remaining in the tightly contested matchup, raising immediate alarms about the Spurs' backcourt depth.[2]

However, the anxiety was short-lived. Castle returned to the floor for the final 30 seconds of San Antonio's narrow 105-104 loss, moving without a noticeable limp. Following the game, the young guard quickly dispelled any lingering fears regarding his availability for the rest of the series, providing a massive sigh of relief for the Spurs' coaching staff.[2][5]

"I was all right," Castle told reporters in the locker room. "I think I kind of tweaked my ankle a little bit. But it started to feel good after I warmed it up." His swift recovery is a crucial development for San Antonio, as Castle has been an essential two-way rotational piece throughout their deep postseason run, contributing 14 points and four steals before his brief exit in Game 2.[2]

On the other side of the bracket, the New York Knicks are drawing inspiration from the sheer pain tolerance of their defensive anchor, Mitchell Robinson. The veteran center is currently playing through a fractured fifth metacarpal in his right hand, an injury that requires his hand to be heavily taped and braced during competition.[3][4]

Despite the fracture, Robinson has remained a vital physical presence in the paint. In Game 1, he logged 13 highly effective minutes off the bench, utilizing his size and strength to help contain San Antonio's superstar Victor Wembanyama. While Wembanyama still managed a team-high 29 points in Game 2, Robinson's interior resistance has been a cornerstone of New York's defensive game plan.[3][5]

Robinson is officially listed as available on the league's mandated injury report, a testament to the medical staff's management of the fracture and the center's willingness to grit through the discomfort. His availability provides crucial depth behind Karl-Anthony Towns, who led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds in their Game 2 victory.[1][3][5]

The overall health of both squads is particularly impressive given the hurdles they cleared to reach the Finals. Knicks forward OG Anunoby, who missed two games during the Eastern Conference semifinals with a hamstring strain, has fully recovered. Anunoby played all four games in the Eastern Conference Finals and has shown no lingering effects while chasing San Antonio's perimeter threats.[3]

Similarly, the Spurs are benefiting from the return to form of veteran guard De'Aaron Fox. Fox was forced to sit out the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to a high right ankle sprain. Since returning, he has been highly impactful, and his name is notably absent from the current Finals injury report.[3][4]

The pristine injury reports reflect a combination of excellent medical management, strategic rest during the regular season, and undeniable player toughness. With Wembanyama dominating the glass—averaging 11.5 rebounds per game to lead San Antonio—and Jalen Brunson orchestrating the Knicks' offense, both teams are operating at peak tactical capacity.[1][4][6]

For basketball fans, this scenario represents the ideal culmination of the season. Recent NBA postseasons have frequently been marred by ill-timed injuries to franchise cornerstones, altering the competitive balance and leaving fans wondering how a series might have unfolded if everyone were healthy. The 2026 Finals are offering a refreshing departure from that narrative.[3][4]

As the series shifts to the raucous environment of Madison Square Garden, the focus remains entirely on the hardwood. With Castle's ankle holding up and Robinson successfully managing his fractured hand, the Spurs and Knicks are poised to deliver a best-on-best championship battle where the only deciding factor will be the talent and execution of the players on the court.[2][5]