The New York Knicks are NBA champions. New York closed out the Finals with a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, capturing the franchise's first championship since 1973 and ending one of the longest title droughts in the league.
The Knicks had carried a 3-1 lead into the game, leaving them one win away from the title. They finished the job at home, holding off the Spurs in a tight, hard-fought finish to seal the series and set off scenes of celebration.
It was anything but easy. The Spurs led by as many as 16 points during the game, staying in control for long stretches thanks in part to a strong all-around performance from Victor Wembanyama, who posted a 19-point double-double.
But the Knicks mounted a determined comeback, powered by Jalen Brunson. The guard put up a staggering 45 points, carrying New York's offense down the stretch and dragging his team back into the lead when it mattered most.
The Spurs had a chance to extend the series with a final shot, but it did not fall. The miss sealed the win for the Knicks and confirmed their first championship in 53 years, a moment generations of fans in New York had been waiting for.
The title quickly spilled out of the arena and into the streets. Just hours after the final buzzer, thousands of fans flooded into New York City to celebrate, and authorities reported that some arrests were made during the festivities, which in some cases involved fire.