New York Knicks Win First NBA Championship Since 1973

The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973 after beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals.

New York closed the series 4-1 at Frost Bank Center, turning a tight road win into one of the biggest moments in modern Knicks history. NBA.com’s game recap listed the result as Knicks 94, Spurs 90 and said New York claimed its first NBA championship in 53 years, while ESPN’s game feed recorded the series as “NY wins series 4-1”.

Jalen Brunson led the title-clinching performance with 45 points, carrying the Knicks through a game in which San Antonio’s defence kept the margin narrow. New York never led by more than four, but found enough late control to finish the job away from Madison Square Garden.

The supporting details mattered. Josh Hart led the Knicks with 11 rebounds, Mikal Bridges had a team-high four assists, and New York won despite shooting 35.6% from the field. The Knicks also edged the glass 48-47 and scored 18 points from turnovers.

For the Spurs, Dylan Harper scored 25 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 14 rebounds and five blocks. San Antonio had led by as many as 16, but could not extend the series back to New York.

For UK NBA followers, this is a historic Finals result rather than just another American late-night box score. The Knicks remain one of the league’s most recognisable global teams, and a first championship since the Walt Frazier-era title of 1973 will carry well beyond New York.

It also completes a dramatic Finals turnaround after the Knicks had already seized control of the series with their Game 4 comeback. This time, Brunson and New York turned the advantage into the trophy.

Image credit: Tzim78 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Image shows a New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs Madison Square Garden watch-party scene.

Sources: NBA.com game summary; ESPN scoreboard data.