Emirates NBA Cup: New York Knicks Fourth-Quarter Blitz Silences the San Antonio Spurs

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LAS VEGAS, NV — The ghosts of 1973 can finally rest. For the first time in over half a century, the New York Knicks are champions of a major NBA competition.

In a gritty, come-from-behind performance that embodied the team’s “Nova Knicks” identity, New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on Tuesday night to claim the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. While the Larry O’Brien trophy remains the ultimate prize in June, lifting the NBA Cup in December offered a starving fanbase its first taste of silverware in 52 years.

The Fourth Quarter Takeover

The victory didn’t come easy. The Spurs, led by their alien phenom Victor Wembanyama, held a 94-89 lead entering the fourth quarter and looked poised to spoil the party. But New York, as they have done all season, thrived in the mud.

The Run: The Knicks opened the final frame with a blistering 11-1 run, erasing the deficit and seizing momentum they would never relinquish.
Anunoby’s Dagger: While Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense, it was OG Anunoby who delivered the knockout blows. The forward finished with a team-high 28 points, including a clutch corner three with under two minutes remaining that effectively iced the game.
Defensive Clamp: The Knicks’ defense, anchored by a returning Mitchell Robinson and the relentless hustle of Josh Hart, held the Spurs to just 19 points in the final period.

Brunson Crowned MVP

Jalen Brunson, the heartbeat of the franchise, was named the NBA Cup MVP. Despite a tough shooting night by his standards, Brunson finished with 25 points and 8 assists, controlling the tempo when it mattered most.

“We know this isn’t the final goal,” Brunson said amidst the confetti. “But for this group, for this city, it means something to win. We proved we can close when the lights are brightest.”

The victory also highlighted the resilience of Karl-Anthony Towns, who overcame an in-game injury scare to contribute a vital double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds), proving his toughness to the Knicks faithful.

Wemby and the Spurs Fall Short

For San Antonio, the loss was a bitter pill after a magical tournament run. Victor Wembanyama was limited to 25 minutes due to foul trouble and conditioning (having recently returned from injury), finishing with 18 points and 6 rebounds.

While rookies Dylan Harper (21 points) and Stephon Castle (15 points, 12 assists) dazzled, the Spurs’ youth showed in crunch time against New York’s playoff-hardened veterans. Wembanyama was notably quiet in the fourth quarter, taking zero shots in the final frame as the Knicks denied him the ball.

A New Era in New York

The win serves as a massive validation for the Knicks’ front office, who went all-in on this core by trading for Towns and bridging the “Villanova” chemistry with elite role players.

The Knicks leave Las Vegas $500,000 richer per player, but more importantly, they leave with the belief that they are the team to beat in the East. The drought is technically over—now, the chase for the big one begins.