The New York Knicks claimed the NBA Cup on Tuesday night with a 124-113 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While it does not end the franchise’s championship drought dating back to 1973, it secures the organization its first NBA Cup banner.
New York Knicks erased a second-half deficit behind OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, who combined for 53 points. Anunoby finished with 28, while Brunson added 25 and earned NBA Cup MVP honors.
The Spurs controlled much of the first three quarters before New York flipped the game late in the third period. A decisive 13-1 run turned a tight contest into a Knicks lead, and they never trailed again after going up 100-95.
San Antonio Spurs were led by Dylan Harper, who scored 21 points off the bench. Victor Wembanyama had 18 points, and De’Aaron Fox added 16, but San Antonio struggled to match New York’s physicality inside.
Rebounding proved decisive, as the Knicks dominated the glass 59-42 and scored 56 points in the paint. Mitchell Robinson collected 15 rebounds in just 18 minutes, including 10 offensive boards that extended possessions throughout the second half.
Karl-Anthony Towns posted 16 points and 11 rebounds despite dealing with a calf issue that forced him to the locker room late in the first half and briefly sidelined him in the third quarter. He returned in the fourth and helped stabilize the interior.
The victory also came with a financial reward, as each Knicks player on a standard contract earned $318,560 for winning the tournament. Combined with reaching the final, that payout totaled $530,933 per player.
The game does not count toward the regular-season standings, leaving both teams at 18-7 and atop their respective divisions. Recent NBA Cup finalists have gone on to make deep playoff runs, adding significance to the result.
New York travels to Indiana on Thursday, while San Antonio returns home to host Washington.
