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Knicks Clinch First NBA Title Since 1973 as Brunson Scores 45 in Game 5

City leaders announced a ticker-tape parade as officials investigate reports of arrests, property damage and gunfire following the celebration.

Overview

  • The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to win the 2026 NBA Finals 4-1, with Jalen Brunson scoring 45 points in the clinching Game 5 on Saturday.
  • Brunson was named Finals MVP after a series in which he averaged 32.6 points and set a Knicks record for points in a Finals game, while the NBA noted New York trailed by 10 or more points in every game but still won the title.
  • New York’s run featured repeated comeback wins, including a record 29-point rally in Game 4 that remains the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
  • Celebrations in New York turned rowdy overnight, with thousands in the streets, multiple arrests, videos of a bus on fire and reports of gunfire near Times Square, prompting an NYPD response and an official investigation; a ticker-tape parade is planned for Thursday.
  • The Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama and a young supporting cast, showed promise for the future despite the loss and will likely focus on building around that core in coming seasons.