The New York Knicks won their first title since 1973, beating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the NBA Cup final behind OG Anunoby’s 28 points.
THE New York Knicks ended a 52-year trophy drought by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 28 points, including five three-pointers, at the T-Mobile Arena.
Jalen Brunson added 25 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Seven Knicks players scored in double figures in a balanced offensive effort.
The Spurs had built an 11-point lead late in the third quarter behind French star Victor Wembanyama.
New York responded with a decisive 35-19 fourth-quarter run to secure the victory.
“We got down 10 or whatever it was and we found a way to win,” Brunson said.
“That’s going to be our motto going forward: we’re going to find a way.”
The Knicks limited Wembanyama to 18 points after his semi-final heroics.
Mitchell Robertson provided crucial defence off the bench with 15 rebounds and two blocks.
“OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robertson — they played their asses off tonight,” Brunson stated.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown said the win was significant for his first season.
“Any time you can participate in an event where you’re the last one standing and you’re able to hang up a banner, especially at iconic MSG, you take that seriously,” Brown said.
San Antonio’s scoring was led by Dylan Harper with 21 points off the bench.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pointed to team-wide issues rather than Wembanyama’s performance.
“I think we struggled more as a team,” Johnson said.
“We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, which hurt us getting out in transition.”
Johnson believes the playoff experience will benefit his young team.
“To be able to feel those games, work those games, be in the moment in those games, I think is a valuable experience,” he added.
The title is the Knicks’ first since winning the 1973 NBA Finals.
