The Knicks win the NBA title for the first time in 53 years, and Bronson shines against the Spurs | Basketball news

The New York Knicks ended their championship drought on Saturday, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the final of seven games by a score of 4-1.

The New York Knicks, fueled by 45 dramatic points from Jalen Brunson, rallied to defeat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and win their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday.

The Knicks won the best-of-seven series 4-1, denying Victor Wembanyama and his young Spurs teammates at home from lifting the Cup for the first time since 1973.

The Knicks, who rallied from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 to clinch the win The biggest comeback in Finals historyerased a double-digit deficit to win for the fourth time in the series.

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The Knicks trailed by 16 points in the second quarter and trailed by 10 at the start of the fourth quarter, but Brunson wouldn’t let them lose.

“I have no words,” Brunson said after setting a Knicks record for most points in a Finals game, surpassing Willis Reed’s 38 points in Game 3 of the team’s 1970 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I don’t know what I feel,” added Brunson, who was named Finals MVP.

“I’m in awe. When someone counts us down, we find a way to go back and do something about it.”

French star Wembanyama scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked five shots, and rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 points for San Antonio.

But once again, the Spurs, who beat the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, were unable to fend off the shifty and determined Knicks.

The Empire State Building was lit up in Knicks colors

The win marked the final act in a dramatic playoff run that captivated New York, where tens of thousands of long-suffering fans packed into viewing parties throughout the Big Apple as the team moved closer to its first title in more than half a century.

Within moments of victory on Saturday, the Empire State Building was lit up in the Knicks’ signature orange and blue, as wild celebrations erupted outside the team’s home of Madison Square Garden.

There was a raucous team dressed in blue and orange cheering them on at the Spurs’ Frostbank Center as well, where celebrities on the sidelines included not only longtime Knicks fans but also Britain’s Prince Harry, who sat with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

Mikal Bridges scored 14 points, and Josh Hart added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns scored just two points before fouling out in the fourth quarter, but he had 10 rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.

After being fouled for a triple, Brunson made all three free throws to give the Knicks an 86-85 lead with 3:40 left.

It was their first lead since the opening minutes, and they would not trail again.

Game 4 hero OG Anunoby drove a dunk to make it 88-85, and after the Spurs tied it 88-88, Brunson put New York back in front with a driving basket and the Knicks held on.

“We were not ready,” says the Tottenham coach.

With their backs against the wall, Spurs were locked down defensively from the start.

Wimbanyama set the tone, as he blocked three shots in the first quarter, giving Spurs a 23-13 lead, reducing the Knicks’ number of points in any quarter this season.

Wembanyama tied a Finals record with five blocks in the first half and hit a 3-pointer that pushed the Spurs to 16 points early in the second half.

But the Knicks were hot and cut the deficit to three before Devin Vassell’s fadeaway basket at the buzzer sent the Spurs into the break with a 42-37 lead.

San Antonio quickly rebuilt a double-digit lead, but Brunson and the gritty Knicks wouldn’t let them get away.

“We weren’t ready to win an NBA championship,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “The best team won.

“We did a lot of good things, and we didn’t finish the job. That’s what it is.”