The New York Knicks have claimed the NBA Cup, securing a dramatic 124-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the championship game held in Las Vegas. The win, which occurred on Tuesday night (Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Philippine time), marks the franchise's first major trophy since their 1973 NBA championship.
A Trophy Decades in the Making
This victory allows the Knicks to hang a new banner inside the iconic Madison Square Garden, ending a long wait for team honors. The roster, featuring NBA Cup MVP Jalen Brunson alongside fellow Villanova championship alumni Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, now sets its sights on a deeper playoff run with hopes of representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
Key Performances and a Crucial Run
OG Anunoby led all scorers with 28 points for the Knicks, while MVP Brunson added 25. Karl-Anthony Towns delivered a gutsy performance, contributing 16 points and 11 rebounds despite battling a calf injury that forced him to briefly leave the court twice. For the Spurs, rookie sensation Dylan Harper scored 21 points, with Victor Wembanyama adding 18 and De'Aaron Fox chipping in 16.
The Knicks dominated the interior, outrebounding San Antonio 59-42. Mitchell Robinson was a force with 15 rebounds, 10 of which were on the offensive glass, helping New York to a commanding 56-44 advantage in points scored in the paint.
The game's turning point came late in the third quarter. After trailing for much of the night, the Knicks seized control with a decisive 13-1 scoring run to take a 100-95 lead. They never looked back or trailed again, closing out the game strongly.
Financial Rewards and Historical Context
The championship came with a significant financial bonus for the players. According to the Associated Press report, each Knicks player on a standard contract earned an extra $318,560 for winning the final, bringing their total tournament earnings to $530,933 per player for reaching the championship game.
This in-season tournament game does not count toward the regular-season standings, so both teams' records remain at 18-7, keeping them atop their respective divisions. Historically, success in the NBA Cup has been a positive indicator for the rest of the season. All four previous finalists—the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Milwaukee Bucks—went on to make the playoffs. Indiana even reached the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, and Oklahoma City won the NBA championship last season, suggesting bright prospects for both the Knicks and Spurs.
