Knicks beat Spurs in Game 5 to win first NBA championship since 1973, ending 53-year drought

Victor Wembanyama stands with his arms crossed during the national anthem before Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.

SAN ANTONIO – The New York Knicks completed one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history Saturday night inside Frost Bank Center, beating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to capture their first championship since 1973.

The only downside was that they didn't win the clincher in front of the home fans at Madison Square Garden, but there were enough Knicks fans in San Antonio to make it feel like a New York City crowd at times.

New York entered the night with a 3-1 series lead and a chance to end 53 years of frustration. The Knicks completed a historic comeback in Game 4 to put themselves on the precipice of basketball greatness, and they finished the job on Saturday night. While they would have loved to do it at home, the Knicks clearly weren't going to give away an opportunity to clinch an NBA championship.

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The New York Knicks celebrate with the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Game 5 started out like every other game in the series, with San Antonio quickly jumping out to a lead. The Spurs won the first quarter for the fifth straight time, and once again, the Knicks found themselves staring at a double-digit deficit.

New York scored just 13 points on 4-for-22 shooting in the opening quarter, tied for the second-fewest in an NBA Finals opening quarter in the shot-clock era, according to ESPN. Only the 2016 Golden State Warriors, who scored 11 points in