New York Knicks Beat San Antonio Spurs in NBA Finals Game 5 to Capture First Championship in More Than 50 Years
The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years on Saturday night, June 13, 2026, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. The title capped a dramatic series that ended with the Knicks securing the decisive win late in the game, completing the franchise’s first championship run since 1973. Jalen Brunson led the way for New York with 45 points, delivering a standout performance that helped push the team over the finish line.
The victory gives the Knicks only their third championship since the team was founded in 1946. Their previous titles came in 1970 and 1973, making this latest win especially significant for one of the NBA’s most storied franchises and its long-suffering fan base. Supporters had embraced the “Knicks in five” rallying cry after the team’s Game 4 victory, hoping New York would close out the Finals in five games. The Knicks delivered, winning four of the five games in the best-of-seven series and denying San Antonio a chance to extend the matchup.
For the Spurs, the loss ended their bid for a sixth NBA championship. San Antonio’s most recent title came in 2014, and the team fell short of adding another trophy despite pushing through the Finals against a surging Knicks squad. The game drew additional attention from celebrities who traveled to Texas to witness the championship matchup in person.
The Knicks’ triumph marks a defining moment for the franchise and its fans, ending more than five decades of championship frustration and restoring New York City to the top of the NBA after years of waiting.
