The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 to win the 2025 NBA Cup Championship on Tuesday.
Despite trailing for almost the entire first three quarters, the Knicks battled back and became the third team in NBA history to win the Cup since it started in 2023, with the previous winners being the Los Angeles Lakers (2023) and Milwaukee Bucks (2024).
Knicks forward OG Anunoby led all players with 28 points (10-17), on top of nine rebounds and three assists. Jalen Brunson was named the NBA Cup Championship MVP after finishing with 25 points (11-of-27), eight assists, and four rebounds.
Spurs star Victor Wembenyama finished with 18 points (7-17), six rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist in just 25 minutes. Dylan Harper would lead the SPurs with 21 points.
Full game recap + highlights
After gaining a seven-point lead, the largest of the first half, the Spurs found themselves in trouble as the Knicks battled back.
Anunoby scored back-to-back clutch buckets in the waning minute of the half to tie it up 59-59.
But San Antonio’s De’Aaron Fox hit a clean mid-range jumper seconds before the buzzer to give the Spurs a 61-59 lead at halftime.
Fox would go on to put up 16 points with nine assists and two rebounds.
San Antonio shot 47% (24-51) in the first half, 6-20 from three-point range. They were outscored 30-28 in the paint, but shot 7-10 on free throws in the half, with the Knicks going 5-8 at the line, who shot 45% (24-53) from the field in the first half
Anunoby led all players with 20 points in the first half alone, with San Antonio’s Devin Vassell leading his team with 12.
Both teams were almost even across the board in other stats in the first half, including rebounds (Knicks – 25, Spurs – 24) and turnovers (Knicks – 5, Spurs – 4).
Second half
The Spurs would eventually get out to a game-largest 11-point lead at one point, holding the lead throughout the entirety of the third quarter.
New York would try to rally as the Spurs held a tight 94-89 lead over the Knicks heading into the fourth, thanks to a heater from Wembanyama.
After putting up 20 in the first half, Anunoby finished the third quarter with just two points.
But the Knicks came back in the fourth to take a 97-94 lead thanks to a three from guard Jordan Clarkson with 10:27 left to go.
New York would get out to a seven-point lead (104-97) with 7:40 left to go.
San Antonio would keep Wemby on the bench for a long stretch during the fourth quarter that spanned almost six minutes. During that time, the Spurs held the Knicks to 10 points while scoring nine, making it 110-105 before Wemby checked back in.
Thanks to a pair of clutch threes from Josh Hart and Anunoby, the Knicks took a 118-110 lead with 1:44 to go.
But the Spurs couldn’t muster up a comeback as the Knicks claimed the third NBA Cup Championship.
San Antonio finished the game shooting 41% (36% three-pointers) from the field to New York’s 47% (38% three-pointers).
The Knicks out-rebounded the Spurs 59-42, with Mitchell Robinson grabbing a jaw-dropping 10 offensive boards for New York off the bench, 18 in total.
