Knicks rally past Spurs to secure 2025 NBA Cup crown
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LAS VEGAS — The New York Knicks claimed the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup on Tuesday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 at T-Mobile Arena.
New York trailed for the entire second and third quarters but flipped the game with a 12-1 burst to open the fourth. That surge put the Knicks in front for good, and they closed the period with a 35-19 advantage to capture the franchise’s first in-season tournament title.
Key performers
OG Anunoby paced New York with 28 points. Jalen Brunson supplied 25, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
San Antonio placed seven players in double figures, led by 21 points from rookie guard Dylan Harper and 18 from forward Victor Wembanyama.
Second-chance dominance
The Knicks’ victory leaned heavily on the offensive glass. New York pulled down 23 offensive rebounds, converting them into 32 second-chance points. According to ESPN Research, it was the first time the Spurs had surrendered that many second-chance points since the Los Angeles Lakers recorded 33 in Game 3 of the 2001 Western Conference finals.
Bench boost
Guards Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek provided crucial minutes off the bench. Clarkson posted a team-best plus-15 rating, while Kolek was plus-14, both instrumental in the decisive fourth-quarter run.
The Knicks’ late surge sealed a championship that eluded them through the middle quarters, delivering the NBA Cup to New York for the first time.
Source: ESPN
