The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, securing their first championship since 1973 and their third in franchise history. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to win the series 4-1. The victory marked the end of a 53-year wait for the franchise, which was founded in 1946. Jalen Brunson was named the series Most Valuable Player after scoring 45 points in the clinching game. According to the Idaho State Journal, Brunson’s performance tied an NBA record for a road player in a series-clinching victory. The New York Times noted that Brunson is only the fourth player in history to score at least 45 points in a title-winning game. Brunson, who joined the Knicks as a free agent in 2022, averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists during the five-game series. The Knicks were noted for their ability to overcome significant deficits throughout the series. They won all three games in San Antonio, including a Game 4 victory where they overcame a 29-point second-half deficit, an NBA Finals record. In Game 5, the Knicks trailed by 16 points in the first half and by 10 points early in the fourth quarter before mounting a comeback. Brunson scored 15 points in the final period of Game 5. The Spurs became the first team to lead five finals games by at least 10 points in the first quarter. The Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and five blocks. Rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 points off the bench for San Antonio. For the Knicks, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, both Villanova teammates of Brunson, contributed 13 and 14 points, respectively. Karl-Anthony Towns also played for New York, while OG Anunoby and Stephon Castle provided key scoring and defensive contributions in the closing moments of the game.