The New York Knicks have achieved the unthinkable, ending a 53-year drought for an NBA championship with a nail-biting 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the fifth and final game of the NBA Finals.
The Knicks, who entered the game with a 3-1 series lead, overcame a 16-point deficit to seal the series victory in Texas. Jalen Brunson, the team's star player, was crowned the 2026 Finals MVP after setting a finals franchise record with 45 points.
Brunson, visibly emotional during the on-court celebration, described the moment as 'everything I ever dreamed of'. He praised his teammates, saying he was 'in awe' of their collective achievement, adding that the team had consistently found a way to come back from adversity throughout the series.
The Spurs, led by Dylan Harper's 25 points and Victor Wembanyama's 19 points and five blocks, pushed the Knicks to their limits, but ultimately came up short. San Antonio built a 16-point lead in the first half, but a 22-9 run by the Knicks in the second half brought them back within striking distance.
Devin Vassell's basket gave the Spurs a 42-37 lead at halftime, but the Knicks cut the deficit to seven by the end of the third quarter. Brunson's 40th point tied the game late in the fourth quarter, before the Knicks sealed the win.
New York coach Mike Brown described the moment as 'surreal', adding that he still couldn't believe the team had achieved their historic victory.