After 53 Years, the Knicks Are NBA Champions Again

The New York Knicks became NBA champions by surviving one last fight from the San Antonio Spurs, closing out Game 5 of the NBA Finals with a 94-90 victory at Frost Bank Center.

New York had to overcome a slow start, falling behind 23-13 after the first quarter and trailing 72-65 entering the fourth, but the Knicks saved their best stretch for the championship minutes once again. Their 29-18 fourth-quarter advantage flipped the game, sealed the series at 4-1, and delivered the franchise’s first title since 1973.

The margins were thin across the box score, which made New York’s late execution even more decisive. The Knicks shot just 31-of-87 from the field for 36 percent, while San Antonio was slightly better at 33-of-86 for 38 percent. Both teams hit 12 threes on 37 attempts, but the Knicks created separation at the free throw line, going 20-of-28 compared to the Spurs’ 12-of-19.

Jalen Brunson authored the championship-clinching performance with 45 points in 41 minutes, shooting 14-of-27 from the field, 4-of-7 from three, and 13-of-15 at the line. Josh Hart added a rugged 13 points and 11 rebounds, while OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson helped New York win the rebounding battle 48-47. San Antonio got 25 points from Dylan Harper off the bench and 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks from Victor Wembanyama, but the Spurs’ starters struggled to generate efficient offense when the game tightened, allowing the Knicks to turn a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit into a championship celebration.

The Championship Moment

The championship was ultimately decided in a frantic final three minutes that swung back and forth before New York finally delivered the knockout blow.

San Antonio appeared poised to extend the series when Devin Vassell buried a mid-range jumper for an 85-83 lead, opting against an open three-pointer in favor of the pull-up. Moments later, however, Jalen Brunson produced the play that changed everything.

Fouled while attempting a three-pointer, Brunson calmly knocked down all three free throws to put the Knicks ahead 86-85, giving New York its first lead since the opening minutes of the game. The Spurs had opportunities to answer but came up empty on consecutive possessions as De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper both failed to convert, allowing the Knicks to slowly seize control.

The lead stretched to three when OG Anunoby was awarded a basket on a goaltending violation, making it 88-85. Victor Wembanyama responded by drawing Karl-Anthony Towns’ sixth foul and splitting a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to two.

After Brunson’s next attempt caromed awkwardly off the side of the backboard, Harper delivered a clutch turnaround jumper to tie the game at 88-all with 1:12 remaining. The Spurs’ momentum lasted only seconds. Brunson answered immediately with a floater in the lane for a 90-88 lead, and San Antonio never recovered. Fox missed another critical shot, Josh Hart split a pair of free throws after drawing a foul, Mitchell Robinson extended the possession with a huge offensive rebound, and Anunoby added another point from the line to push New York ahead 92-88 with just 20 seconds left.

Even then, the Spurs refused to go away. Wembanyama missed a difficult turnaround three from the wing, but Stephon Castle crashed in for a putback dunk — his first made field goal of the night — to cut the deficit to 92-90.

San Antonio nearly forced a turnover on the ensuing possession before Mikal Bridges secured the ball and made one of two free throws. After a timeout, Harper was intentionally fouled on the catch with 8.5 seconds remaining, but he missed both free throws. Anunoby secured the rebound, split his own pair at the line, and gave the Knicks a four-point cushion. Wembanyama’s final three-point attempt missed, setting off the celebration.

As confetti began to fall, longtime Knicks fan and ABC broadcaster Mike Breen delivered the call generations of New Yorkers had waited decades to hear: “Knicks fans, this is not a dream. Your long, long wait has ended. Go ahead and cry. After 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA champions once again.”

The finish capped one of the most dominant championship runs in NBA history. New York went 16-3 in the playoffs, finished the postseason on a 15-1 run, lost by a combined six points across its three playoff defeats, and won nine consecutive road games on its way to ending a 53-year title drought.