2026 NBA Finals
The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA Champions, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the Finals. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5 (Knicks 94-90, June 14) to clinch the title, New York's first championship since 1973.
The context
The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973, ending a 53-year drought by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in a remarkable series. The Knicks rallied from double-digit deficits in all four of their victories, a level of clutch resilience that will define the Jalen Brunson era at Madison Square Garden. Brunson, named Finals MVP, averaged elite numbers throughout and delivered a career-defining 45-point performance in the clincher.
Full series: Game 1 (June 3, San Antonio): Knicks 105-95, Brunson 30 pts. Game 2 (June 5, San Antonio): Knicks 105-104, Brunson’s go-ahead free throws, Wembanyama missed the final shot. Game 3 (June 8, MSG): Spurs 115-111, San Antonio’s only win, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Game 4 (June 10, MSG): Knicks 107-106, the largest comeback in Finals history, with New York overturning a 29-point deficit; Brunson 36 pts. Game 5 (June 14, MSG): Knicks 94-90, Brunson scored 15 of his 45 points in the fourth quarter and hit a go-ahead floater with 65 seconds left to seal it.
The victory came despite the Knicks trailing by as many as 16 in the deciding game and being down 10 with eight minutes remaining. Victor Wembanyama (Defensive Player of the Year) was brilliant at times but could not overcome the Brunson-fueled comeback machine. MSG erupted after the final buzzer, New York’s long wait is over.