IS THE WAIT OVER: NEW YORK KNICKS SECURE FIRST TROPHY SINCE 1973 FINALS
After 52 years of waiting, the Knicks are champions again. Can MVP Jalen Brunson lead this squad to an NBA Finals appearance?
The New York Knicks have finally ended their long wait, more than 50 years, for a trophy, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup final.
OG Anunoby scored 28 points in the Knicks' 124-113 victory over the Spurs on Tuesday, grabbing their first trophy since 1973.
Anunoby hit five three-pointers, and Jalen Brunson added 25 points as New York secured the win at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
San Antonio entered the final with confidence after upsetting the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals, thanks to Victor Wembanyama.
However, New York's strong effort stopped San Antonio from winning the cup.
The Knicks held Wembanyama to 18 points and took control in the fourth quarter after trailing by 11 points.
Seven Knicks scored in double figures, with Anunoby and Brunson supported by Karl-Anthony Towns with 16 points, Jordan Clarkson with 15, Tyler Kolek with 14, and Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges with 11 each.
Mitchell Robertson played well defensively off the bench, grabbing 15 rebounds and two blocks.
OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robertson – they played their butts off tonight, said Brunson, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
Without them, we don't win this, Brunson said. We were down 10, but we found a way to win. That's going to be our approach going forward: we're going to find a way.
San Antonio seemed headed for a win when Wembanyama hit a three-pointer with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
But Clarkson and Kolek hit three-pointers to cut the Spurs' lead to five points, and the Knicks then dominated in the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 35-19 to win.
Knicks coach Mike Brown said that winning the title is a good sign for the team's hopes of competing for the NBA Finals in his first season.
Anytime you can be the last team standing and hang up a banner, especially at MSG (Madison Square Garden), you take that seriously, Brown said. And all of our guys took it seriously.
Dylan Harper led San Antonio's scoring with 21 points off the bench, while De'Aaron Fox scored 16 points.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said the team struggled as a whole, which led to their defeat.
I think we struggled more as a team… "We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, which hurt us," Johnson said.
When we played with the right spacing and tempo, we got some good looks. And we missed them. I think it was more of a team thing than Victor struggling individually.
Johnson believes San Antonio has a lot to build on as they chases Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.
"Playing competitive games against really good teams," Johnson said. Experienced teams that have been in similar situations. Being in those games and experiencing those moments is valuable.
LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE
Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.
Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.
Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.
Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.
On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.
The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.
Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.
Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.
Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.
There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.
HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY
Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.
The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.
With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.
There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.
Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.
“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”
Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.
Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.
That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.
Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.
Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.
The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.
Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.
