The New York Knicks are the new NBA Cup champions. They defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. It was not an easy victory for New York. They had to fight back from a significant deficit in the second half. Ultimately, a strong fourth quarter sealed the deal.
The game changed dramatically late in the contest. San Antonio seemed in control for much of the game. In fact, they led by 10 points late in the third quarter. However, the Knicks refused to give up. They dominated the final period. New York outscored the Spurs 35-19 in the fourth quarter alone. Rebounding played a massive role in this turnaround. The Knicks ended the game with a 67-56 rebounding edge. Physical play helped them control the pace when it mattered most.
Several players stepped up to ensure the Knicks took home the trophy. OG Anunoby was the top scorer for New York. He finished the night with an impressive 28 points. Jalen Brunson was a constant force on the court. He scored 25 points and dished out eight assists.
The reserves were vital to the comeback. Jordan Clarkson hit two huge 3-pointers to give New York the lead. Mitchell Robinson was a beast on the boards. He grabbed 15 rebounds total, including 10 on the offensive end. Also, Tyler Kolek provided critical assists during the final three minutes.
On the other side, Dylan Harper led San Antonio with 21 points.
Jalen Brunson named MVP
Jalen Brunson’s steady performance earned him the Emirates NBA Cup MVP award. The voting process was nearly unanimous among the media. Brunson received 19 out of the 20 available media votes. There was one media vote for OG Anunoby. Fans saw things slightly differently. Five votes were reserved for fan input. Three of those fan votes went to Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The other two went to Brunson. Technically, Brunson earned 21 of the 25 total MVP votes.
What this win means for the Knicks
There was no champagne popping in the locker room after the game. Still, there was a deep sense of accomplishment. The team believes the nature of the win matters most. Coming from behind proves they have grit. Knicks coach Mike Brown sees great value in the tournament.
“During the course of the year, you try to find situations to put pressure on your group,” Brown said. He noted that single-elimination games test a team’s identity.
Brown believes this manufactured pressure breeds confidence. It prepares the team for the actual playoffs later in the year.
This tournament run tested New York against tough competition. They beat playoff-caliber teams like Toronto, Orlando, and San Antonio to win the title. Now, the Knicks must carry this momentum forward.
They have proven they can handle high-pressure environments. This experience will be valuable when the regular season heats up.
