The NBA Cup victory has won the admiration of devoted basketball fans, but the Knicks are eager to refresh their trophy collection with this new achievement. On Tuesday evening, in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena, the Knicks triumphed over the Spurs 124-113, securing the title in the league’s mid-season tournament.
Every Knicks player earned $530,933 in prize money following the win, and fans can look forward to seeing banners honoring the team raised at Madison Square Garden, as announced by head coach Mike Brown before the game.
The game was highly competitive right from the start, with both teams putting up high scores in a close first quarter. Although the Knicks initially scored three of the first four points, they allowed the Spurs to respond with nine straight points and struggled briefly without their star player Victor Wembanyama, who had limited playing time in the opening period. Contributors like Anunoby, who added 10 points including two three-pointers, helped the Knicks stay close, trailing by only two points at the quarter’s end.
In the second quarter, the Spurs maintained their aggressive style, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on fast breaks, extending their lead to seven points at halftime. Key players like De’Aaron Fox and Steffon Castle fueled the Spurs with 15 assists combined. Despite this, the Knicks managed to close the gap, tying the game at 59-59 late in the half, and took a slight two-point deficit into the locker room, with Anunoby finishing the half strong with 20 points total.
The third quarter saw a shift in momentum as the Spurs opened aggressively with a 9-2 run, prompting a Knicks timeout. The Knicks faced adversity when Karl-Anthony Towns injured his left leg while driving to the basket. Though Towns left the court for treatment, Wembanyama made the most of his limited minutes, ending the period with 13 points added. The Knicks closed the quarter on an 8-2 run, leading 94-89.
The fourth quarter began with a strong burst from the Knicks, sparked by Jordan Clarkson off the bench, who scored eight points in just over 90 seconds to widen the Knicks’ lead and force a Spurs timeout. The Knicks continued to build their advantage with key shots from Anunoby and Jalen Brunson, who had contributed a quiet but steady 23 points by this time. Remarkably, Towns returned to the game after a lengthy break despite reports of a recurring calf problem.
Josh Hart helped the Knicks extend their lead further with a three-pointer while visibly limping, pushing the score to 115-107. Although the Spurs tried to rally with a three-pointer by Harper, Anunoby’s timely corner three sealed the Knicks’ commanding lead. The Spurs couldn’t recover as the Knicks secured their third NBA Cup with the final buzzer.
The pace of the game was relentless throughout, with both teams combining for 204 shots. The Knicks and Spurs were nearly even in three-pointers, but the Knicks dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Spurs 59-42 and scoring 12 more points in the paint. Mitchell Robinson led the Knicks with 15 rebounds in just 18 minutes, while Towns contributed 16 points over 30 minutes. The Knicks’ dominance early in the fourth quarter was pivotal, outscoring the Spurs 35-19 in the final 12 minutes.
Game MVP honors went to Anunoby, who had a standout performance with a game-high 28 points on efficient shooting, along with eight rebounds and three assists. However, Jalen Brunson received the NBA Cup MVP award for his 25 points, eight assists, and four rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Knicks (18-7) will continue their regular-season campaign on Thursday night, traveling to face the Indiana Pacers with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Fan Take: This victory lifts the Knicks’ confidence and adds a thrilling new chapter to the NBA’s mid-season excitement, showing that in-season tournaments can bring fresh energy to the league. For basketball enthusiasts, it signals a promising future for the sport, blending high stakes with competitive intensity even before the playoffs.
