Knicks capture 2025 NBA Cup title with dramatic 124-113 win over Spurs
While the NBA Cup title celebration remains in the hearts of basketball purists, the Knicks need to dust off their trophy case and find room for a new piece of hardware.
The Knicks were crowned champions of the league’s season tournament Tuesday night, beating the Spurs, 124-113, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Announcement
By winning the final match, the Knicks players earned prize money of $530,933 each. Fans can also count on a banner hoisted to the rafters of Madison Square Garden – the coach Mike Brown said so before the match.
Here are the takeaways…
— The incentive to compete was clear from the start, as both teams played with pace and produced points in a hotly contested first quarter. After making three of the game’s first four baskets, the Knicks allowed the Spurs to score nine unanswered points, and the Heat check also came without a superstar Victor Wembanyama-– came off the bench midway through the first period, with minutes limited. But the Knicks regrouped with the help of OG Anunobywho added 10 points on two triples. After one, the Spurs were ahead by two, 30-28.
— There was no change of pace in the second quarter. The Spurs kept their foot on the gas, extending their lead to seven at the halfway point by forcing turnovers and spreading the floor in transition. They also saw De’Aaron Fox AND Stefone’s Castle they function as catalysts, contributing 15 combined assists. But the Knicks stayed within striking distance, cutting their deficit to one with 2:28 left in the half and tying the score at 59-59 in the final minute. As the Spurs entered the break ahead by two points, Anunoby flexed his muscles by adding 10 more points (20 total).
Announcement
— It only took two minutes of third-quarter action to notice a change in energy. The Spurs came back from the locker room with tenacity, orchestrating a quick 9-2 run that forced the Knicks to call a timeout. At the halfway point, the Knicks’ deficit reached double digits and, to add insult to injury, City of Karl-Anthony he hurt his left leg after driving toward the basket during a contested layup. While the Knicks star received treatment on the bench, Wembanyama took advantage of his limited time with the rock, finishing the quarter with 13 points (16 total). However, the Knicks kept things under control, closing the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut their deficit to 94-89.
— The fourth quarter opened with a complete reversal of roles. Behind a pair of threes from Jordan Clarkson off the bench, the Knicks caught fire with eight unanswered points in 93 seconds that extended their run to 16-2, putting them ahead by three and forcing the Spurs to use a timeout. After halftime, the Knicks extended their lead to 104-97 with a 3-pointer by Anunoby and a pair of jumpers by Jalen Brunsonwho up to that point had scored a relatively comfortable 23 points. With 4:49 remaining, Towns surprisingly returned after spending more than 10 minutes on the bench. The television crew had reported moments earlier that Towns had re-aggravated a lingering calf problem.
— Josh Hart gave the Knicks their largest lead of the night with 2:58 left, draining a 3-pointer with a notable limp from the left wing to push the score to 115-107. Then, after a three from Harper cut the Spurs’ deficit to five, Anunoby retook the lead with a corner three that widened the margin to eight. The momentum swing put the Spurs in a hole they simply couldn’t climb out of, and when the final buzzer sounded, the Knicks were crowned winners of their third NBA Cup.
— From start to finish, the pace was intense. Both teams combined for 204 shots, and the Knicks made just one more (15) than the Spurs (14). The difference showed on the scoreboard, as the Knicks outrebounded the Spurs, 59-42, and scored 12 more points in the paint. The Knicks leader on the glass was Mitchel Robinsonwho collected 15 boards in 18 minutes. The Towns played 30 minutes, adding 16 points. The swing at the beginning of the fourth quarter gave the Knicks a jolt: they outscored the Spurs, 35-19, during the 12 minutes.
Announcement
Game MVP: OG Anunoby
Anunoby found his rhythm early and never gave up. He finished with a career-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting with eight rebounds and three assists. However, it was Brunson who earned NBA Cup MVP honors: he hit 25 on 11-of-27 shooting with eight assists and four rebounds.
Highlights
Next
The Knicks (18-7) resume regular season play Thursday night, with a road game against the Indiana Pacers (7 p.m. kickoff).