Back
Sports

Spurs and Knicks Clash in 2026 NBA Finals; New York Wins First Title Since 1973

Generated on: Last updated: 72 sources
View source

Knicks End 53-Year Drought with 4-1 Finals Victory Over Spurs

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals, winning the best-of-seven series 4-1 to capture their first championship in 53 years. The series featured significant comebacks, individual milestones, and key player performances on both sides.

Series Summary

The Knicks won Games 1, 2, 4, and 5. The Spurs won Game 3. New York finished the postseason with a 16-3 record.

Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95

Wednesday, June 2 — San Antonio

The Knicks overcame a 14-point third-quarter deficit.

  • Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, with 13 points in the fourth quarter.
  • OG Anunoby scored 17 points (12 in the fourth quarter).
  • Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds.
  • Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks, shooting 6-of-21 from the field.
  • Stephon Castle scored 17 points; Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper each scored 16.
  • A spectator ran onto the court in the fourth quarter and attempted a selfie with Wembanyama before being removed.
  • The Knicks committed zero turnovers in the fourth quarter; the Spurs committed five and shot 28.6% from the field in the final period.

Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104

Friday, June 4 — San Antonio

The Knicks led by 14 midway through the fourth quarter, then survived a furious Spurs rally.

  • The Spurs tied the game at 97 with a 14-0 run.
  • Wembanyama made a three-point play with 57 seconds left for a 104-102 Spurs lead.
  • Brunson tied it at 104 on the next possession.
  • With 13 seconds left, Wembanyama grabbed a rebound but his pass hit Stephon Castle's back; Brunson recovered the loose ball.
  • Wembanyama fouled Brunson, who made one of two free throws with 9.5 seconds left for the 105-104 lead.
  • Wembanyama missed a jump shot at the buzzer. He finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns had 21 points and 13 rebounds.
  • Brunson scored 20 points on 7-for-25 shooting.

Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111

Monday, June 7 — Madison Square Garden

The Spurs ended the Knicks' 13-game postseason winning streak.

  • Wembanyama recorded 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks on 11-of-18 shooting.
  • Stephon Castle added 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
  • Jalen Brunson scored 32 points for the Knicks; OG Anunoby scored 28.
  • The Knicks led 64-57 at halftime; the Spurs regained the lead in the third quarter.
  • President Donald Trump attended the game as a guest of Knicks owner James Dolan.

Game 4: Knicks 107, Spurs 106

Wednesday, June 9 — Madison Square Garden

The Knicks overcame a 29-point deficit — the largest comeback in NBA Finals history since detailed play-by-play recording began in 1997.

  • The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 58-30 in the second half.
  • OG Anunoby tipped in a missed three-pointer by Jalen Brunson with 1.2 seconds remaining for the winning points.
  • Brunson scored 36 points; Anunoby finished with 33.
  • Wembanyama recorded 24 points and 13 rebounds on 9-for-25 shooting.
  • The Spurs made 11 of their first 16 three-pointers but shot 3-for-17 from beyond the arc in the second half.
  • The Spurs led 76-49 at halftime, the largest halftime lead by a road team in NBA Finals history.
  • Mitchell Robinson was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul for hitting Wembanyama in the neck; Wembanyama received a Flagrant 1 for hitting Karl-Anthony Towns in the head on defense.

Game 5: Knicks 94, Spurs 90

Saturday, June 12 — San Antonio

The Knicks won the series 4-1.

  • Jalen Brunson scored 45 points and was named NBA Finals MVP.
  • The Knicks outscored the Spurs 29-18 in the fourth quarter.
  • The Spurs blew a 16-point first-half lead.
  • Wembanyama finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
  • Spurs rookie Dylan Harper scored 21 points off the bench.

Player Statistics

New York Knicks

  • Jalen Brunson: Averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in the series. Scored 45 points in Game 5.
  • OG Anunoby: Averaged 19.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in the 2026 playoffs. Shot 48.3% on three-pointers in the postseason.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns: Averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1. Recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2.

San Antonio Spurs

  • Victor Wembanyama: Averaged 32 points in the series' first three games. Recorded 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks in Game 3. Had 24 points and 13 rebounds in Game 4.
  • Dylan Harper: Scored 21 points off the bench in Game 5. Scored 21 points in Game 4. Averaged 13 points off the bench in the playoffs.

Post-Game Reactions

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson: "The better team won."

Jalen Brunson: "This is everything I dreamed of. This is why I came to New York."

Knicks owner James Dolan: "I'm sorry it took so long, but here we are."

Post-Game Incidents

Following the Knicks' championship win, a shooting occurred at approximately 2:01 a.m. on June 14 near 42nd Street and Broadway in Times Square. A 17-year-old male was shot in the left foot and transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Three persons of interest were taken into custody, and a firearm was recovered.

Reports indicate 63 people were arrested on charges including assault on a police officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration. Ten NYPD members were reported injured. Additional reported incidents include four slashings or stabbings, one school bus set on fire, and damage to other buses and five police cars.