Overview
- The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 to win the 2026 NBA Finals 4-1, clinching the championship on Saturday in San Antonio.
- Jalen Brunson was named Finals MVP after a 45-point performance in the deciding game that capped a series in which he led New York in scoring and late-game plays.
- The title was built around Brunson plus complementary stars Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart, whose defense and key baskets helped sustain multiple comebacks during the series.
- San Antonio’s young core, led by Victor Wembanyama who posted 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks in Game 5, showed promise but could not contain the Knicks’ closing runs.
- Celebrations flooded Manhattan and other boroughs, police made some interventions, the city plans a champions’ parade, and reports say the NBPA champion bonus pool is about $8.5 million to be split among players, coaches and staff.