Dec. 17 (UPI) — The New York Knicks trailed by as many as 11 points before rallying past Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs to win the 2025 NBA Cup.
OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson scored 28 and 25 points, respectively, in the 124-113 victory Tuesday in Las Vegas. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 35-19 in the fourth quarter of the comeback win.
“I’m very excited,” Brunson, who won NBA Cup MVP honors, told reporters. “It’s a goal of ours that we get to check off. It’s an important stepping stone for us. We can still learn and get better from this game.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity we presented ourselves. Through the ups and downs of the game, being up 10 and being down 10, we found a way to win.”
Knicks players — who have standard contracts — will receive $530,933 apiece for making it to and winning the tournament finale. Spurs players will receive $212,373 apiece for their NBA Cup run.
The Knicks went on a 7-2 run off the opening tip off. The Spurs responded with a surge of nine consecutive points to take their first lead and get back in the game. They carried a 30-28 advantage into the second quarter. The Spurs outshot the Knicks 52.2% to 48% over the first 12 minutes.
The game remained tight through the second quarter, but the Spurs held a 61-59 advantage at the break. Anunoby scored 20 points in the first half, with 10 points in each of the first two quarters. Spurs guard Devin Vassell and center Luke Kornet totaled 12 and 10 points, respectively, in the first half.
The Spurs used a 10-3 run to take an 82-71 advantage midway through the third quarter. They carried a 94-89 advantage into the final frame. The Knicks scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter as part of a 15-3 surge to take a lead they never lost. They outscored the Spurs 15-6 over the final 3:41 to secure the victory.
Brunson, Anunoby and the Knicks outshot the Spurs 45.2% to 26.3% over the final 12 minutes.
Brunson made 11 of 27 shots. He was just 1 of 5 from 3-point range, but also chipped in eight assists. Anunoby made 10 of 17 shots, including a 5 of 10 clip from 3-point range. Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns logged 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Rookie guard Dylan Harper scored 21 points off the Spurs bench. Wembanyama, who also came off the bench, totaled 18 points and six rebounds. Spurs guard Stephon Castle chipped in 15 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds.
“We’ve got to enjoy these moments,” Towns said. “You never know when you’ll get another chance to do something like this and be in this environment. Life is very unpredictable. We all, in this room, don’t know what tomorrow has, but I know that in the present the Knicks are the Cup champions.
“I’ve got a bunch of amazing brothers in the locker room that made this possible and an amazing coaching staff. We’ve got to celebrate this.”
The Knicks (18-7) will take on the Indiana Pacers (6-20) in a regular season game at 7 p.m. EST Thursday in Indianapolis. The Spurs (18-7) will host the Washington Wizards (4-20) at 8 p.m. Thursday in San Antonio.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.