New York Knicks end NBA championship drought with win over San Antonio Spurs

By Press Association Sport Staff

The New York Knicks ended a 53-year NBA championship drought with a 94–90 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks overcame a 16-point deficit in game five of the NBA Finals, sealing the series victory in Texas.

Jalen Brunson, crowned the 2026 Finals MVP, set a finals franchise record with 45 points in the win.

“I have no words,” an emotional Brunson told ESPN during the on-court celebration.

“It’s everything I ever dreamed of.”

He said of his team: “I’m in awe. I don’t know. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.”

Dylan Harper led the Spurs with 25 points and Victor Wembanyama added 19 and five blocks, but the home team came up short.

New York entered the game with a 3-1 series lead, having rallied from a 29-point comeback to win 107-106 in the fourth game of the series.

San Antonio built a 16-point opening-half lead, but a 22–9 New York run in the second brought the Knicks back within striking distance.

Devin Vassell’s basket helped the Spurs take a 42–37 lead into half-time.

San Antonio later extended the advantage to 15 points in the third quarter, but the Knicks cut it to seven by the end of the period.

Brunson’s 40th point tied the game late in the fourth quarter before the Knicks closed out the win.

“It’s surreal, I still can’t believe it happened,” coach Mike Brown said after the game.