The New York Knicks staged a comeback from an 11-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the 2025 NBA Cup championship game on Tuesday in Las Vegas. Jalen Brunson earned MVP honors with 25 points and eight assists, while OG Anunoby led the scoring with 28 points. The victory marks the Knicks' first title since 1973, though the team plans no banner at Madison Square Garden.
Knicks Overcome Spurs in Thrilling Final
The New York Knicks captured the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup with a 124-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 17, 2025. Trailing by 11 points late in the third quarter, the Knicks mounted a 43-21 run to close the game, showcasing their depth and resilience under coach Mike Brown.
Jalen Brunson, named tournament MVP, finished with 25 points, eight assists and four rebounds despite an off-shooting night at 11-of-27. He praised his teammates postgame: "OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson... Without them, we don’t win this." Anunoby topped the scorers with 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding nine rebounds and three assists. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds before briefly exiting with a leg injury but returning in the fourth. Off the bench, Clarkson and Kolek scored in double figures, while Robinson grabbed 15 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards that fueled second-chance opportunities.
For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama scored 18 points with six rebounds and two blocks, powering a third-quarter surge that included two 3-pointers and an alley-oop dunk. De’Aaron Fox added 16 points and nine assists, and Stephon Castle had 15 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. Seven Spurs players reached double figures, but they managed only 19 points in the fourth quarter as New York's defense clamped down.
The win earns each Knicks player $530,933 in prize money, compared to $212,373 for the Spurs. Unlike previous champions—the 2023 Lakers and 2024 Bucks—the Knicks will not hang a banner, opting to focus on an NBA Finals run. They plan a celebration before Friday's home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown had expressed enthusiasm for a banner, calling the Cup "a really neat thing" that builds confidence for the playoffs.
This marks the Knicks' first trophy in over 50 years, highlighting their balanced attack averaging six players in double figures this season.
