New York Knicks WIN NBA Finals after another epic comeback to clinch first title in 53

Horns, sirens and a groundswell of countless cheers rang out across New York on Saturday as the hometown Knicks pulled off another miraculous NBA Finals comeback over the San Antonio Spurs some 1,800 miles away.

Trailing by 16 points in the third quarter, Knicks captain Jalen Brunson led New York’s fourth-quarter rally to clinch the team’s first title since 1973 and just the third in franchise history with a 94-90 win. Fireworks shot off in New York within mere seconds of the final horn in San Antonio as long-suffering Knicks fans vented 53 years of frustration. 

Brunson would later win MVP honors after his 45-point effort – the most any Knicks player had scored in a Finals game since another famous team captain, Willis Reed, dropped 38 in Game 3 of the 1970 Finals. 

Remarkably, the Knicks trailed in the final minutes of each of the series’ first four games, three of which they still managed to win, including their historic 29-point comeback on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.   

Once again, the Spurs jumped out to an early lead over the Knicks, finishing the first quarter with a 23-13 edge and later pushing that edge to 16 in the third quarter. 

But after all the comebacks, not to mention victories in 14 of their last 15 postseason games, the Knicks stayed their usual calm and collected selves. And it didn’t hurt that Frost Bank Center was flooded with their fans, including fawning celebrity supporters like Sydney Sweeney, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and Timothée Chalamet, although he was without influencer girlfriend Kylie Jenner. Even British royal Prince Harry was spotted in the eighth row, seated alongside NBA commissioner Adam Silver. 

Coach Mike Brown and his players celebrated the win with a chorus of ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ But nothing could match the euphoric pandemonium sweeping the streets of New York. 

Once again, the Knicks hosted their own watch parties, although only 3,000 ticketed fans were permitted within the NYPD’s ‘frozen zone’ around the arena. 

Meanwhile, attendees at Radio City Music Hall watched on big screen televisions for $10 per person, while countless locals gathered around outdoor TVs along the city’s sidewalks and alleys. 

And then there were the city’s designated outdoor areas, like Central Park, where thousands watched their Knicks make history on enormous projection screens.  

‘I have no words,’ Brunson told ABC as post-game celebrations raged in San Antonio and New York. ‘It’s everything I ever dreamed of.’

Current teammates, fellow Villanova Wildcats and long-time friends Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart added 14 and 13 points, respectively, as the trio of ‘Nova Knicks’ followed their NCAA championships with their first NBA title. The three won the title together at Villanova in 2017 before Brunson and Bridges won another with the Wildcats two years later. 

Despite his history of success, though, Brunson was at a loss for words while celebrating his first NBA crown.  

‘I don’t know what I’m feeling,’ Brunson said. ‘I’m in awe. Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it.’

Spurs guard Dylan Harper, the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, led San Antonio with 25 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 19, 14 rebounds and five key blocks, all of which came in the first half. 

But while Wembanyama & Co. limited New York to just six points in the paint over the first half, things changed dramatically in the second as the Knicks poured in 24 near the basket. 

Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns had his worst performance of the series, scoring just two points on 1-of-7 shooting and committing five turnovers before fouling out in the fourth. 

New York’s bench was a non-factor over the first two quarters while failing to score a single point, although Towns’ backup Mitchell Robinson did finish with 10 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. Still, San Antonio’s reserves outscored New York’s, 32-9.

But that ultimately didn’t matter enough in Game 5 as Brunson began to take over in the fourth quarter.

As has been the case at MSG, celebrities nearly stole the spotlight from the Spurs and Knicks in Game 5 at Front Bank Center.

Sweeney is dating lifelong Knicks fan and music producer Scooter Braun, which is why she wore a unique team-emblazoned top with New York superstar Jalen Brunson’s No 11 splashed on the front. She was later seen slipping into an oversized vintage Knicks sports jacket, showing her support for the visiting team.

Sweeney’s appearance left many stunned in San Antonio, including NBA analyst Charles Barkley.

ABC’s coverage panned across the star-studded crowd showing the 28-year-old star among the famous faces.

In a delayed reaction, Barkley said ‘Sydney Sweeney is here?’

‘Everybody is a New York Knicks fan now,’ he added.