The New York Knicks saved their best for last in Las Vegas. On December 16, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena, New York surged past the San Antonio Spurs, 124–113, to claim the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. The Knicks did it the hard way, shaking off an early hole and closing with control when it mattered most.

In a tournament built for pressure, the final delivered it in full. As one live recap framed the moment, “It all comes down to this.” New York answered that challenge with poise and pace, turning a tense night into a gleaming trophy.

How the Knicks flipped the NBA Cup Final

Finals are about timing. New York’s timing was better. The Knicks absorbed San Antonio’s early energy, steadied the ball, and executed with cleaner possessions as the game wore on. They did not rush; they trusted their spacing and hit the open man. The score swung their way, and the Knicks kept their foot down.

We have seen this character from New York throughout the Cup. The team’s identity—strong guard play, smart reads, and a frontcourt that stays active—showed up in key stretches. It wasn’t a single play. It was the consistent next play.

“Brunson’s composure is the Knicks’ superpower.”

Jalen Brunson’s steady hand and the Knicks’ stars

Jalen Brunson set the tone for this run long before the final tip. In the semifinal win over Orlando (132–120), he poured in 40 points, with Karl-Anthony Towns adding 29. That game showed the template: Brunson’s control, Towns’s shot-making, and a group that doesn’t blink.

Knicks coach Mike Brown captured it simply in his praise of Brunson, calling his performance “what MVPs are supposed to do.” That is not just about shot totals; it’s about rhythm, pace, and how a lead guard calms a team when the game gets noisy.

In Las Vegas, that calm was priceless. Brunson’s presence created space for teammates, kept turnovers down, and guided New York through momentum swings. Even without a box score in front of you, the impact was obvious: he organizes winning possessions.

“KAT’s gravity changed the geometry for New York.”

Spurs’ rise is real — and Victor Wembanyama is the anchor

San Antonio didn’t stumble into this stage. The Spurs earned their shot by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111–109 in the semifinal. That win was notable for Victor Wembanyama’s return from a calf issue; he scored 22 and looked like the matchup problem every team must solve.

In the final, the Spurs pushed back with the same youthful edge that carried them all tournament. They were fearless. They tested New York in the open floor and kept coming. The lesson here is bigger than one night: the Spurs’ future is bright, and Wembanyama’s effect on both ends gives them a ceiling few teams can reach.

San Antonio will feel the sting of this loss, but they should also feel clarity. They know the level now. The margins in Cup games are thin, and the Spurs are already living in those margins with a generational talent at the center of it.

“Spurs are learning fast — this won’t be their last final.”

Las Vegas, the NBA Cup, and a stage built for drama

The Cup brought knockout stakes into the 2025–26 NBA season, and the environment delivered. T-Mobile Arena felt like a neutral-site cauldron, the kind of place where a six-point swing suddenly feels like sixteen. Semifinals took place December 13, and the title game followed on December 16 — a compact window that asks teams to recover, adapt, and respond.

For those who love the details, Yahoo Sports’ live recap captured the play-by-play and quarter-by-quarter scoring, a clear window into how the game turned. But even without a chart, the eye test matched the story: New York solved the puzzle first, and they did it with discipline.

What this Cup title means for the Knicks

This is the Knicks’ first championship in this tournament format, and it matters. A Cup win is not the season’s final word, but it is a real trophy in a high-pressure setting. It validates the team’s style and the leadership core driving it.

Winning in this way — from behind, against a dangerous Spurs team — sends a message. New York can handle the big stage. They can adapt in real time. And with Brunson steering and Towns stretching the floor, they have answers to different problems a final can present.

It also echoes a simple truth about knockout basketball: secure your possessions, keep your cool, and make the right read. The Knicks did all three. That’s how a deficit turns into a double-digit win and a banner night in Vegas.

Why the Spurs should leave encouraged

San Antonio beat one of the West’s best in the semifinal and took a seasoned New York team deep into the fight. They have a core that is growing together and a focal point in Wembanyama who already bends games. The narrow escape against Oklahoma City showed their grit; the final showed what it takes to finish the job.

These are the reps you can’t simulate. The Spurs now know the pace, the pressure, and the poise required on this stage. That understanding pays off when the NBA season tightens and when the Cup comes back around.

What’s next — and why this Cup will echo

For the Knicks, the Cup can be a springboard. Confidence travels. The habits they leaned on in Vegas — late-game control, clarity in roles — are the same habits that win in April and May. For the Spurs, the next step is about sharpening endgame execution and maximizing the space Wembanyama creates.

Circle your calendars. If this final is a preview, Knicks vs. Spurs is a matchup we will want again, with even higher stakes on the line. The Cup did its job: it gave us urgency in December and a storyline that will ride with both teams deep into the season.

On a night when, as the live coverage put it, “It all comes down to this,” New York had the better answers late. The Knicks leave Las Vegas with the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup, a 124–113 win, and the feeling that this was more than a December moment — it was a statement.