The Knicks won the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup Tuesday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in Las Vegas. From team captain Jalen Brunson to 10th man Tyler Kolek, the Knicks showed real championship mettle in their win. The resounding victory over a Western Conference contender is a statement to the rest of the league that this team can execute when the stakes rise.
Fueled by a 28-point night from OG Anunoby, the Knicks ran away in the fourth quarter in a similar fashion to their previous game against the Orlando Magic. After a slow start to the season, the team is leaning into its strengths while incorporating head coach Mike Brown’s philosophy.
Even against the alien lifeform that is Victor Wembanyama, the Knicks’ frontline of Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mitchell Robinson dominated the boards. The team finished +17 on the glass, including 23 offensive rebounds. While the Spurs did a good job of limiting fastbreak opportunities, the Knicks still got to the paint, to the tune of 56 points. The team was also excellent at converting defense to offense, getting 19 points off eight turnovers.
Knicks Championship Mettle On Display In NBA Cup Win
A Sustainable Style of Play
A top-five offense and offensive rebounding team, the Knicks were at their best on Tuesday against a Spurs team that ranks sixth in defensive rebounding. Robinson in particular stood out with 15 rebounds in 18 minutes. He has been foul-prone in the past, but on Tuesday, he played with poise and control. Battling against Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, Robinson put his 240-pound frame to use, carving out space in the paint while the Spurs’ futile attempts to box out fell short.
He even attempted a few putbacks, opportunities that he will undoubtedly continue to have, given that he averages nearly five offensive rebounds per game. On the other end, Robinson was a stalwart presence in the paint. A brief injury scare for Towns meant we got an extended look at Robinson as the lone big against someone as dynamic as Wemby. Robinson more than held his own, credibly defending Wemby out to the three-point line without help. The win encapsulates everything the Knicks can be under Brown: egalitarian on offense, aggressive and tone-setting on defense.
To wit, even on a poor shooting night, Mikal Bridges still found a way to contribute, racking up five rebounds and five assists. Seeing Bridges continue his season-long run of playmaking under constant ball pressure should be reassuring, with the team’s emphasis on sharing the ball and shot creation load. He also played excellent defense on the Spurs’ revolving slate of playmakers in Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell. While Harper eventually got going in the third quarter, Bridges held his own against the kind of long, multifaceted guards that the Knicks will face if they are to make a run at the title.
A Growing Bench Mob
Kolek’s two-game run of consistently good play bodes well for a Knicks team devoid of traditional point guards outside of Brunson. While Miles McBride is injured, Jordan Clarkson has played his role admirably. However, Clarkson has never been confused for a true table setter. If Kolek becomes a real option for Brown to deploy, the Knicks will have no reason to seek outside help on the trade or buyout market.
Brown has stated he wants to go nine deep, sometimes ten. Mounting injuries to key players like McBride and Landry Shamet have also necessitated a deeper bench. Kolek is a heady player. Playing him next to Robinson and Anunoby would mitigate the defensive concerns and give him the ideal big man to operate with in the pick-and-roll. If the three-point shot is consistent, Kolek would be a natural fit in a bench lineup of Robinson, Clarkson, Anunoby, and another starter of choice.
At a minimum, with over 50 games to go, Kolek’s steady play gives Brown another option if injuries become a concern.
The Mental Game
It’s clear from the comments pre- and post-game that the team took this opportunity seriously, beyond the money at stake.
“When you’re able to have success, it breeds confidence in everybody in the organization,” Brown said. Like the Indiana Pacers of last season, the Knicks can parlay their NBA Cup championship into real playoff success by emulating much of what they just did.
The habits the team continues to build are already paying dividends.
© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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