yahoo - 6/14/2026 5:36:35 AM - GMT (+2 )
The New York Knicks, for the first time in 53 seasons and third time in their storied history, are champions of the NBA.
The Knicks outworked the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, June 13 in Game 5, 94-90, to take the 2026 NBA Finals 4-1 – the culmination of a dominant postseason run that saw them win 15 of their final 16 games.
And now, finally, after more than five decades New Yorkers will watch their team hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
New York proved itself this postseason through a resilience in which no deficit was too large to overcome. The Knicks faced first quarter deficits of at least 10 points in every game of the Finals and outscored San Antonio 29-18 in the fourth quarter to clinch the title on the Spurs home court.
In Game 5, that grit was on display once more, as the desperate Spurs jumped out to a 23-13 first-quarter lead. But Jalen Brunson put the Knicks on his back, scoring a game-high 45 points – a Knicks record for points in a Finals.
The Knicks set the tone for NBA Finals by claiming Game 1 with a 105-95 victory, overcoming the Spurs’ home-court advantage. Building on this momentum, New York fought through a close finish in Game 2, edging out a 105-104 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead as the series shifted to New York.
When the series moved to Madison Square Garden, the Spurs spoiled the Knicks’ homecoming, bouncing back with a 115-111 win in Game 3. Game 4 seemed destined for the Spurs, who dominated nearly the entire game and built a staggering 29-point halftime lead. Yet, the Knicks orchestrated what will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history, mounting an extraordinary second-half rally – sealed with OG Anunoby’s iconic tip-in with 1.2 seconds left to play – to shock the Spurs and seize a 107-106 victory, which sent the series back to San Antonio.
The Knicks didn’t get to celebrate the clinching victory in front of the raucous MSG fans, but they had already captured the hearts of New York City, uniting a fan base that had been starved for a title. New York last won the NBA Finals in 1973, which came three years after it won its first championship, in 1970.
This comes as Knicks coach Mike Brown wins his first NBA championship as a head coach, establishing him as a franchise icon. Brown empowered his players to find their roles and deftly adapted to adjustments opposing teams had made.
During the first round, the Knicks found themselves in a 2-1 hole against the Atlanta Hawks, who had smothered New York’ with their defensive length and athleticism.
Brown, however, tweaked New York’s offense to run more through Towns, who at times played like a point-center, distributing the ball to his teammates.
The Knicks won the final three games of that series and then proceeded to sweep the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
When New York stole the first two games of the Finals in San Antonio, long-suffering Knicks fans began to anticipate a title. And even after the Spurs won Game 3 at MSG to snap New York’s 13-game playoff winning streak, chants of “Knicks in four” quickly shifted to “Knicks in five.” But following a dismal first half in Game 4, it looked like the tide had completely turned, until the team responded with the record-breaking comeback.
That victory, which will be remembered by every New York fan who witnessed it, launched jubilant reactions across Madison Square Garden and New York City, setting the stage for this Game 5 victory – and a celebration which will begin in the Lone Star State before a one-of-kind party in the Big Apple.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Knicks beat Spurs to win 2026 NBA championship, first title since 1973
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