Knicks beat Spurs in NBA Cup final to end 52-year trophy drought

The New York Knicks celebrate with the trophy after the Knicks defeated San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the Emirates NBA Cup championship game at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Updated 17 December 2025
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Knicks beat Spurs in NBA Cup final to end 52-year trophy drought

  • Knicks head coach Mike Brown said winning the title augured well for the team’s hopes of mounting a championship run at the NBA Finals in his first season in charge
  • Spurs coach Mitch Johnson blamed collective shortcomings for the defeat rather than Wembanyama’s performance

LAS VEGAS: OG Anunoby scored 28 points as the New York Knicks ended their 52-year trophy drought with a 124-113 NBA Cup final victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Forward Anunoby rattled in five three-pointers and point guard Jalen Brunson finished with 25 points as New York clinched their first silverware since the 1973 NBA Finals at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

San Antonio went into the final brimming with confidence after upsetting top seeds and reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City in Saturday’s semifinals thanks to a superb display from French prodigy Victor Wembanyama.

But a dogged all-round performance from New York thwarted San Antonio’s hopes of crowning their cup campaign with victory.

The Knicks limited Wembanyama to 18 points while delivering a balanced offensive performance to pull clear in the fourth quarter after trailing by 11 points late in the third.

Seven Knicks players finished in double figures, with Anunoby and Brunson backed by Karl-Anthony Towns (16 points), Jordan Clarkson (15), Tyler Kolek (14) and 11 points apiece from Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.

Mitchell Robertson provided a valuable defensive cameo from the bench, hauling in 15 rebounds with two blocks.

“OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robertson -— they played their asses off tonight,” said Brunson after being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

“Without them we don’t win this,” Brunson said. “We got down 10 or whatever it was and we found a way to win. That’s going to be our motto going forward: we’re going to find a way.”

San Antonio had looked to be motoring toward victory when Wembanyama knocked down a 27-foot three-pointer with just over two minutes left in the third period to put the Spurs up 92-81.

But Clarkson and Kolek drained three-pointers to trim the Spurs lead to five points and the Knicks then cut loose in the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 35-19 to seal the win.

Last one standing

Knicks head coach Mike Brown said winning the title augured well for the team’s hopes of mounting a championship run at the NBA Finals in his first season in charge.

“Any time you can participate in an event where you’re the last one standing and you’re able to hang up a banner, especially at iconic MSG (Madison Square Garden), you take that seriously,” Brown said. “And all of our guys took it seriously.”

San Antonio’s scoring was led by Dylan Harper with 21 off the bench, while De’Aaron Fox was the pick of the starters with 16 points.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson blamed collective shortcomings for the defeat rather than Wembanyama’s performance.

“I think we struggled more as a team... We gave up a lot of offensive rebounds, which hurt us getting out in transition,” Johnson said.

“When we played with the appropriate space but the right spacing and the right tempo we got some really good looks. And we missed them. I think it was probably more of a team thing than I thought Victor was individually struggling.”

Johnson though believes San Antonio have plenty to build on as they set about pursuing leaders Oklahoma City in the Western Conference.

“Playing really competitive games against really, really good teams,” Johnson said. “Seasoned, experienced teams that have been in similar situations. To be able to feel those games, work those games, be in the moment in those games, I think is a valuable experience.”


Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement

Updated 17 December 2025
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Undefeated boxing great Terence Crawford announces retirement

  • Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance
  • Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents

LOS ANGELES: Undefeated world super middleweight champion Terence Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Tuesday, hanging up his gloves three months after a career-defining victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

The 38-year-old from Nebraska, who dominated Mexican legend Alvarez in Las Vegas in September to claim the undisputed super middleweight crown, announced his decision in a video posted on social media.

“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle,” Crawford said in his retirement message. “The one where you walk away on your own terms.”

Crawford, (42-0, 31 knockouts), retires as the reigning WBA, IBF and WBO supermiddleweight champion after defeating Alvarez by unanimous decision in a masterful performance.

Crawford had also held the WBC super middleweight belt, but was stripped of it earlier this month following a dispute over sanctioning fees.

Speaking in his video, Crawford said his career had been driven by a desire to keep “proving everyone wrong.”

“Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when,” Crawford said.

“I spent my whole life chasing something. Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong.”

“I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had.”

Crawford’s career straddled three different decades, with the southpaw making his professional debut in 2008 and rapidly becoming one of boxing’s brightest talents.

He won his maiden world title, the WBO lightweight crown, with victory over Scotland’s Ricky Burns in 2014.

Crawford won 18 world titles in five weight classes, culminating in his win over Alvarez.

He retires having never been officially knocked down in a fight.

All of his 42 victories have come by way of unanimous decision or stoppage, with no judge ever scoring in favor of an opponent during his career.