The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time in 53 years. Jalen Brunson delivered a masterclass performance with 45 points, including 13 consecutive scores in the fourth quarter, to lead New York to a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Finals.
Brunson was named Finals MVP, capping a series where the Knicks won 4-1. Notably, New York rallied from double-digit deficits in every single victory, overcoming a 16-point hole in the deciding game. This resilience defined their playoff run, which included the largest comeback in NBA Finals history during Game 4.
Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, Brunson’s former Villanova teammates, contributed 27 combined points. For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks, while Dylan Harper added 25 points. Despite San Antonio leading by as many as 16 points, the Knicks’ defense tightened in the second half, holding the Spurs to just 31.8 percent shooting in the first half.
The victory triggered immediate celebrations across New York City. The Empire State Building was illuminated in Knicks orange and blue, marking the end of a half-century wait for the franchise’s third title.