The New York Knicks ended a 53-year wait for an NBA championship after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to secure their third title in franchise history.
The victory sealed a 4-1 triumph in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series, with the Knicks producing another remarkable comeback to clinch their first championship since 1973.
Having already staged the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in Game 4 after overturning a 29-point deficit, New York once again showed resilience. The Knicks trailed by 16 points in the second quarter and were still 10 points behind early in the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center before mounting a decisive rally.
Leading the charge was Jalen Brunson, who delivered a masterclass performance with 45 points, including 15 in the final quarter. His heroics earned him the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award by unanimous vote.
“I have no words. It’s everything I dreamed of,” Brunson told ESPN after the game.
“I’m in awe. It’s why I came to New York.
“Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.
“Whatever you put in front of us, we’re going to find a way every time we step on this court.”
Brunson’s 45-point display set a new Knicks record for points scored in an NBA Finals game, surpassing Willis Reed’s previous mark of 38 points set in 1970. He also became only the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 45 points in a championship-clinching Finals game.
The triumph caps a memorable postseason for the Knicks, whose never-say-die attitude and ability to overturn large deficits defined their championship-winning campaign.
