Relive the final 5:08 of Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals as the New York Knicks completed an unforgettable comeback to capture their first NBA championship since 1973.
Trailing by 16 points earlier in the game, the Knicks closed strong behind a historic performance from Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points and 15 in the fourth quarter to lead New York to a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Posts tagged as “Jalen Brunson”
The New York Knicks ended a 53-year drought by capturing the 2026 NBA championship, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1. The series was defined by New York’s late-game execution and historic comebacks, notably rallying from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 and erasing a double-digit lead in the Game 5 clincher.
New York’s balanced offensive attack and resilient defense allowed them to win three pivotal games on the road. Point guard Jalen Brunson led the charge, rightfully securing the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award after a breathtaking 45-point masterpiece in Game 5. Karl-Anthony Towns provided critical floor spacing and interior toughness, while Mikal Bridges delivered elite two-way play, anchoring the perimeter defense and hitting timely buckets.
The young Spurs fought valiantly but struggled to maintain large leads under pressure. Victor Wembanyama was a generational force, anchoring the paint with historic shot-blocking while leading his team in scoring. All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox used his blazing speed to dictate the tempo, while Devin Vassell served as a reliable secondary scorer. Ultimately, New York’s veteran poise proved too much for the rising Spurs.
NEW YORK KNICKS WIN 1ST TITLE SINCE ’73
Jalen Brunson scored 45 PTS (15 in 4Q) for New York, as they rallied from down 16 PTS to win their FIRST title in 53 years and their third title in franchise history with a 94-90 win in Game 5 over the Spurs.
THE FULL ENDING OF GAME 4.
UNCUT. 🍿🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/ZZNYRySRA3
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026
The Knicks defeated the Spurs, 107-106 tonight in New York. It is the largest comeback in Finals history. Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 36 points on 12-25 from the field (3-7 from 3) to go along with 7 assists and 5 rebounds. For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama had a team-high 24 points on 9-25 from the field (2-8 from 3). The Knicks lead the series 3-1.
Tonight marked just the 5th time in the play-by-play era (since 1998) that a team erased a 20+ point deficit in the 4th quarter to win a playoff game.
ESPN:
The New York Knicks made a record comeback from 29 points down and moved to the brink of their first championship since 1973 by beating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 on Wednesday night.
OG Anunoby tipped in the miss of Jalen Brunson’s long 3-point attempt with 1.2 seconds remaining to complete the rally, giving the Knicks a 3-1 lead and three chances to win the championship.
Spurs had this in the bag, they could never miss a 3-points in the first half and built a 29 point lead, the Spur had a 27 point lead entering the 3rd then the Spurs started missing their outside shot and the Knicks erases the lead and made it to a 15 point game in the 4th and that’s where everything fell apart for the Spurs.
Game Highlights;
THE NEW YORK KNICKS GET THE STOP TO COMPLETE THE LARGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY 🚨🚨🚨
THEY TRAILED BY 29.
THEY NOW LEAD THE SERIES 3-1. pic.twitter.com/bZEQ1UWakX
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026
OG ANUNOBY WITH THE PUTBACK.
KNICKS COMPLETE THE 29-PT COMEBACK FOR THE WIN.
LARGEST COMEBACK IN NBA FINALS HISTORY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ZtWVWY6JsR
— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026
To say this is the “Greatest Comeback in NBA Finals History!” would be an understatement.
The Spurs still has a chance to redeem themselves as they go back to San Antonio for Game 5 this Saturday evening.
ESPN;
Victor Wembanyama has his first NBA Finals win — and the New York Knicks suddenly have a lot of work left to end their 53-year championship drought.
Wembanyama had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists, carrying the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory Monday night that cut the Knicks’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
San Antonio is trying to make a first-of-its-kind NBA Finals comeback, and the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama, with his array of skills, makes anything look possible.
I’m not sure if it was the environment or that the US President was in the audience made the atmosphere in MSG a little difference than usual.
Here’s the final 4:50 of the game;
The Spurs defeat the Knicks, 115-111. The Spurs were led by the 32 points and 8 rebounds and 6 assists from Victor Wembanyama, while Stephon Castle also added 23 points. The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson, who had 32 points and 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The Knicks lead the series 2-1
The Knicks defeated the Spurs, 105-104 tonight in San Antonio. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points along with 13 rebounds and 4 assists, while Mikal Bridges also added 20 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with a team-high 29 points, 4 blocks and 9 rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox also added 20 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds. The Knicks lead the series 2-0
Vincent Goodwill, reporting for ESPN;
Karl-Anthony Towns has been where Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are now: a talented bunch that is trying to get over the hump but keeps making errors to land in impossible situations.
Towns’ experience, forged through some recent playoff failures, seems to be driving the bus for the New York Knicks, who held off a late surge by the Spurs on Friday night for a 105-104 win in Game 2 at Frost Bank Center and a 2-0 series lead in the NBA Finals.
That was a costly turnover by Wemby after a Jalen Brunson miss and a “potential game winning play” for the Spurs.
Wemby's costly turnover in the finals seconds of Game 2…
Tough. pic.twitter.com/96BRj8L5Aj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2026
Going back to MSG with a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, the atmosphere will be bonkers and ticket prices will surely cost a kidney and a liver.
Missed the Game? Me too but here’s the final 4:53 of Game 1, which was an absolute masterclass in clutch basketball, showing why these two superstars dominated the floor.
Victor Wembanyama anchored the interior, erasing shots at the rim and hitting a massive bucket to put San Antonio ahead 95-94.
But Jalen Brunson completely hijacked the final minutes. Scoring or assisting on nearly every possession down the stretch, Brunson keyed a stunning 9-0 run, icing the game with tough, contested buckets to seal a thrilling 105-95 victory.
The New York Knicks stole game 1 of the NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson lead the team with 30 points, that includes a three pointer of a Mikal Bridges assist with less than 2-mins in the game and gave the Knicks back the lead and stopped the Spurs’ 9 straight points. The win will also be the Knicks 12th straight win in the Post Season stretching back in the 1st Round against the Hawks.
12 CONSECUTIVE POSTSEASON WINS FOR NEW YORK.
THEY TAKE A 1-0 SERIES LEAD IN THE NBA FINALS! pic.twitter.com/ORCoyhHMdr
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
Karl-Anthony Towns the second leading scorer for the Knicks with 18 points and 12 rebounds but was in foul trouble late in the game. OG Anunoby added 17 points with his 2 crucial free throw in the last 30-secs to give NY an 8-point cushion against the San Antonio. Jost Hart may not have a great offesive game but was big on the defensive side, including the a steal of Wembanyama that resulted to a Brunson jumper that gave them the a 6-point lead (101 – 95).
The Spurs had their chance to wrap the game up but a number of turnover that resulted to a Knick point lost them the game. Victor Wembanyama lead the Spurs with 26 points, 12 rebs and 3 blocks but he also committed 6 turnover. Stephon Castle had 17 points and 8 rebounds, while rookie Dylan Harper, who is playing like a seasoned veteran added 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Game highlights;
The patience of OG Anunoby on this three-pointer 🙌
He's got 8 already in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/LdD5oxORDN
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
JALEN BRUNSON 4Q TAKEOVER.
THE CAPTAIN LEADS NEW YORK TO VICTORY.
Knicks move 3 wins away from their first NBA Championship in 53 years 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xj7MPUZ0uv
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
Wemby (18 PTS) with the putback.
Spurs Nuns with the approval 👏
Watch the 4Q of Knicks/Spurs Game 1 on ABC! pic.twitter.com/Z404XJQWDn
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
Hit the three.
Hit the shrug 😆 https://t.co/3nwJkgvBmW pic.twitter.com/ff53XRGjNh
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026
Spurs will look to regroup in Game 2 this Friday night.
If I have to plant a flag and make a definitive prediction on this matchup, I am going with the New York Knicks in 6 games.
Here is why the Knicks have the edge to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years:
1. The Rest and Freshness Factor
The Knicks are coming into the Finals with a massive rest advantage. They absolutely dismantled the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 4-0 sweep, meaning they will have had over a full week to rest, heal up, and game-plan.
On the flip side, the Spurs had to endure an absolute war against the Thunder. Surviving a grueling, emotionally draining 7-game series—especially winning Game 7 on the road—takes a massive physical toll. By Game 5 or 6, that fatigue could easily start showing for San Antonio.
2. Team Chemistry and Perimeter Dominance
The Knicks’ “Villanova-core” roster construction is built precisely for this moment. Jalen Brunson is playing at an otherworldly level, and having elite, versatile wing defenders like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby gives New York the ultimate tools to disrupt San Antonio’s perimeter creators like De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell. New York turns over teams, controls the pace, and rarely makes mistakes.
3. The Wembanyama Conundrum
Make no mistake: Victor Wembanyama is the ultimate X-factor. He can completely take over a game defensively and change shots at the rim like nobody else in basketball history.
However, the Knicks have the frontcourt depth to throw multiple looks at him. Karl-Anthony Towns can pull Wemby out of the paint on the defensive end with his outside shooting, opening up driving lanes for Brunson. Meanwhile, Mitchell Robinson provides the physical, bruising size inside to make Wembanyama work for every single inch on the block.
Prediction: Knicks in 6
Expect the Spurs to ride the high of their Western Conference emotional peak and split the first two games in San Antonio. But once the series shifts to New York, the Knicks’ defense, depth, and home-court energy at MSG will pull them ahead, ultimately closing it out in Game 6 on the floor of the Garden.
The NBA will have a different champion for the eighth straight season, extending the longest such streak in league history.
The NBA Finals begin Wednesday, June 3 at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. pic.twitter.com/YOe4ouiNht
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 31, 2026
After a grueling seven-game series in the West, the stage is set. We officially have the two teams left standing to battle for the 2026 NBA Championship: the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.
This matchup marks a historic, highly anticipated rematch of the iconic 1999 NBA Finals. Victor Wembanyama and the surging Spurs are chasing their first ring since 2014, while Jalen Brunson looks to lead the Knicks to break a legendary title drought dating back to 1973.
You can find the official schedule for the 2026 NBA Finals here, but if you are in the Philippines, it be live on Prime Video PH with the following schedule.
All games are scheduled for 8:30 AM Ph time
| Game | Date | Away Team | Home Team |
| Game 1 | Thursday, June 4 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs |
| Game 2 | Saturday, June 6 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, June 9 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks |
| Game 4 | Thursday, June 11 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks |
| Game 5* | Sunday, June 14 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs |
| Game 6* | Wednesday, June 17 | San Antonio Spurs | New York Knicks |
| Game 7* | Saturday, June 20 | New York Knicks | San Antonio Spurs |
*If necessary
ECF MVP Jalen Brunson stats:
4 GP | 25.5 PPG | 7.8 APG | 3.3 REB | 47.8 FG%
Here’s Jalen receiving the ECF MVP Trophy.
JALEN BRUNSON WINS EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS MVP 👏
Walt Frazier presents Brunson with the Larry Bird Trophy 🏆
The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999! pic.twitter.com/a8JwvUQ0Kk
— NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2026
New York back in NBA Finals for first time since 1999 after beating Cleveland 130-93 to finish sweep
The 2026 Eastern Conference Champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/IOp07pMwWn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 26, 2026
ESPN;
Karl Anthony-Towns had 19 points and 14 rebounds, OG Anunoby scored 17 and the New York Knicks routed the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 Monday night to complete a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench while Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson had 15 apiece for the Knicks, who became the fourth team to have an 11-game winning streak during their postseason run. The last to do it was Golden State, which had a 15-game run en route to its second title in three seasons in 2017.
The Knicks took the wind out of the Cavs’ sails with that Game 1 comeback and completely demoralized them for the rest of the series!
NY Knicks will take on the winner of Thunder/Spurs.
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off Wednesday, June 3rd.
Vincent Goodwill, reporting for ESPN;
The New York Knicks seem to follow a similar script on this suddenly smooth road to the NBA Finals — adjusting in second halves, pulling away for easy wins.
It’s a mark of a team peaking at the right time, finding new life with every opponent mishap and discovering it has the answer to every question posed. The latest evidence was the Knicks’ 121-108 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, which pushed them to within one game of their first NBA Finals since 1999.
The Knicks will look to complete the sweep and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals on Monday night in Cleveland.
Watch the game highlights and more;
0:00 #3 KNICKS at #4 CAVALIERS
5:23 Media Availability
17:24 On This Day In NBA History – On May 23. 1989 Michael Jordan threw down a poster dunk vs the Pistons.
17:53 Player of the Night
20:23 Top 5 Plays of the Night
AP on ESPN;
Josh Hart scored a playoff career-high 26 points, Jalen Brunson had 19 points and 14 assists, and the New York Knicks moved halfway to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 on Thursday night.
It’s gonna be a wild night in MSG “if” the Knicks are able to advance to the 2026 NBA Finals!
Here’s a recap of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between Cavs and the Knicks.
Games 3 and 4 will now shift to Cleveland as they try to turn this into a series.
KNICKS WIN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Ji2CY3iLWI
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) May 20, 2026
The Cleveland Cavaliers held a commanding 22-point lead over the New York Knicks with just 7:52 remaining in regulation. What followed was pure madness. The Knicks unleashed a furious 30-8 run to close out the fourth quarter and force overtime.
Momentum completely shifted in the extra period. The Cavs ran out of gas, scoring just 3 points, while the Knicks poured in 14 to cap off the largest playoff comeback in franchise history with a 115-104 victory.
Jalen Brunson led the charge for New York, dropping 38 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, while making his presence felt on the defensive end with 3 steals. He got plenty of help, as every Knicks starter scored in double digits. Mikal Bridges netted 18 points, while OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart all contributed 13 points apiece.
For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell did everything he could, leading the team with 29 points, 5 rebounds, and a monstrous 6 steals. James Harden and Evan Mobley added 15 points each, but the offense stalled late; Max Strus was the only Cavalier to find the bottom of the net in overtime.
Watch the Knicks end Game 1 with their historic 22 – 11 run.
Cleveland will have just a day to review film and figure out what went wrong before the series resumes for Game 2 on Thursday evening at Madison Square Garden.
Ben Lambert, reporting for NBA.Com;
The Knicks defeat the Sixers 108-102, as Jalen Brunson (26 pts) took them home, scoring six of their last nine points to earn a clutch win at Madison Square Garden.
The game included 25 lead changes and 14 ties, as both teams vied back-and-forth for control.
The Sixers ran out of gas late, scoring just three points in the last 6:52 of the game. Tyrese Maxey (26 pts) was their top scorer.
Patrick Ewing and John Starks sat side-by-side on the baseline during the contest, watching New York take a 2-0 lead with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in the offing. Now, the series shifts back to Philadelphia.
So far, one of the best game of the 2026 NBA Playoff. Joel Embiid did not play in the game due to a bruised right hip injury.
Similar to Spurs – Wolves series, Game 3 and 4 will now move to Philadelphia.
Here’s the final 4-mins of Game 2 of the East Conference Semifinals; 76ERS – Knicks
The Knicks defeated the 76ers, 108-102 tonight in New York. Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 26 points on 9-21 from the field (1-5 from 3) to go along with 6 assists. For the 76ers, Tyrese Maxey had a team-high 26 points on 9-23 from the field (1-6 from 3). The Knicks lead the series 2-0
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If Boston had a choke job against the New York, then this time it was the NY Knick who had a choke job against the Indiana Pacers. The New York Knicks who are playing in their home floor and was leading by 17-points (111 – 94) with just 6:26 mins remaining in regulation then the Pacers went on a 31 to 14 run to tie the game at 125 to extend the game to over time.
WHAT A NIGHT FOR AARON NESMITH ‼️
🎯 30 PTS (20 in 4Q)
🎯 8 3PM (6 in 4Q)
🎯 2 BLKAt his best when the lights were brightest 😤 pic.twitter.com/cbX3q8Ned2
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
Aaron Nesmith led the Pacers’ run in the 4th quarter, making 6 consecutive three-pointers and scoring 30 points, while Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists. Haliburton made a game-tying 23-foot step-back jump shot to beat the game clock and extend the game for another 5 minutes.
you cannot make this up.
the basket to tie it from Tyrese Haliburton and force OT. pic.twitter.com/xqT7gKwmuO
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 22, 2025
Jalen Brunson lead the Knicks with 43 points and 5 assists but committed 7 turn over, Karl-Anthony Towns added 35 points and 12 rebounds but missed two free-throw that could have given the Knicks a 5 point lead with 14.1 secs remaining in regulation.
Both team will be back at MSG this Saturday, May 24, 2025, for Game 2 of the East Conference Finals.
The Knicks once again managed to stun the Celtics with another win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, erasing a 20-point deficit to secure a 91-90 victory at TD Garden on Wednesday night.
The Celtics controlled the first three quarters of the game. Entering the fourth quarter, Boston enjoyed a 14-point lead. In the first five minutes and thirty seconds of the fourth, both teams were just exchanging baskets until the 8:27 mark, when the Knicks went on a 21-6 run, shocking both the Boston team and the home crowd.
Down by 20 on the road…
Watch the @nyknicks entire comeback to take a 2-0 series lead ‼️ pic.twitter.com/kzQ8I22vdm
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025
The Knicks’ fourth-quarter charge was led by Jalen Brunson, who scored 17 points, including 7 in the fourth quarter, and had 7 assists. Josh Hart scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns had another all-around game with 21 points and 17 rebounds. Mikal Bridges made an impact on both sides of the floor, scoring 14 points and dishing out 5 assists. On the defensive end, he grabbed 7 rebounds and 3 steals, including a crucial steal from Jayson Tatum that sealed the game for the Knicks.
KNICKS COME BACK FROM 20 DOWN FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT GAME.
BRIDGES MAKES THE GAME-SEALING PLAY FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT GAME 🤯😱 https://t.co/MirKP7w4hu pic.twitter.com/xnD7oEGpsc
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025
BRUNSON SLITHERS TO THE CUP.
KNICKS ARE UP 3 AFTER GOING DOWN 20 ON TNT 😱 pic.twitter.com/wemk5OWe6z
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025
As good as the Celtics were from the three-point line in the first round, Boston went cold from beyond the arc, making only 10 of their 40 three-point attempts. They only made 2 three-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored just 4 points in the last 5:05 of the game, while the Knicks scored 10 points in the same period. Overall, the Knicks limited the Celtics to just 17 points while scoring 30 points in the final period.
Boston’s leading scorers in the game were Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, each scoring 20 points. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum only managed to score 13 points, with his last 4 points being the final ones for Boston.
Here’s the final 6:35 of Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The series (Games 3 and 4) will now switch to MSG, with the New York Knicks holding a 2-0 lead.
It was a record-setting game by the Warriors as they defeated the NY Knicks for their 7th straight win, the win also made Steve Kerr as the Warriors’ regular-season victory leader, over taking the late Hall of Famer Al Attles with his 558th victory in his 11th season. The Warriors are 14-2 since acquiring Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.
A legacy of greatness.
Congrats, Coach Kerr on becoming the All-Time Winningest Coach in Warriors franchise history 👏 pic.twitter.com/R21nGfCjdE
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 16, 2025
It was a close first half, where both the Knicks and Warriors are just trading shots after shots after shot. By the half, Warriors’ lead was only 4 points but by the end of 3rd qtr,the Warriors was able to build a momentum that carried over to the 4th and was able to create a 9 points cushion at the 9:32 mark of the game. Steph Curry lead the Warriors with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, followed by Moses Moody, who has been playing great since the All-Star break, added 18 points, and Jimmy Butler with 11 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists.
Buzzer beaters, smiles and good vibes only@MichelobULTRA || Joy Cam pic.twitter.com/mfncXvcsVe
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 16, 2025
Dray said NIGHT NIGHTTTTT pic.twitter.com/b05mRidMmC
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 16, 2025
Same spot, same shot. Yeah, Mo‼️
📺 #NBAonABC pic.twitter.com/VAMkY0w1R3
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 16, 2025
Karl-Anthony Towns lead the Knicks with 29 points and 12 rebounds, and OG Anunoby added 23 points and 9 rebounds. The NY Knicks are missing the services of Jalen Brunson, who will be out for 1-2 weeks due to a sprained ankle.
The Knicks will travel to Florida to face the Heat on Monday night, while the Warriors will host the Denver Nuggets this Tuesday evening to extend their winning streak.
Knicks lead almost the entire games but the Lakers made a run that forces the Knicks to dig deep to force an OT.
NY was lead by Jalen Brunson scoring 39 points and 10 assists, OG Anunoby added 20 points, while Josh Hart had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
But in the end Luka Doncic and Lebron James was too much for the NY, both Luka and Lebron combined for 63 points, 19 rebounds and 20 assists.
LUKA & LEBRON LEAD THE LAKERS TO THEIR 8TH STRAIGHT WIN 🙌
🌟 Luka: 32 PTS, 12 AST, 7 REB, 4 STL
🌟 LeBron: 31 PTS, 12 REB, 8 ASTLAL improves to 8-2 with Dončić in the lineup with a trip to Boston coming up on Saturday 🍿 pic.twitter.com/WrCNu8f6eL
— NBA (@NBA) March 7, 2025
Here’s the 10 mins video from NBA on the last 6 mins of regulation and the entire OT.
We are just less than a month away from the NBA All-Star, as previously announced, the starters are composed of three frontcourt players and two guards from each conference have been named starters for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Eastern Conference starters:
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference starters:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
This is how the starters are determined;
Fans accounted for 50% of the vote to determine the NBA All-Star Game starters, while current NBA players and a media panel accounted for 25% each.
The reserves for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be revealed by the end the month. Seven players will be named for each conference: two guards, three frontcourt players and two additional players at any position. NBA head coaches will select the reserves.
After the reserves are announced, the 24 NBA All-Star selections will be divided evenly into three eight-player teams.
The top finishers by position group in the final fan voting returns ⬇️ https://t.co/3aHsiMb8eW pic.twitter.com/ZuOrhEmKZU
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 24, 2025
Team USA’s unbeaten run at the FIBA World Cup 2023, winning their first five games of the tournament, came to an end on Sunday 3rd of September, when they lost to Lithuania in a thrilling encounter. The final score was 110-104 in favor of Lithuania and in front of 11,349 fans.
The game was played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, and saw Lithuania, who played a physical and aggressive game, take control early on. The Lithuanias built a 19 pts lead (12 – 31) in the first qtr and ended the first half with a comfortable 17 pts lead (37 – 54). The Americans led by Anthony Edwards tried to staged a come back but could not get closer than 4 pts (85 -89) with 4:45 mins remaining in the game. Anthony Edwards scored 34 pts and 2 assists, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges both scored 14 pts but where in effective in the closing period of the game. The trio are the only American player to score in double figures.
LITHUANIA BRING DOWN THE USA 💥😱#FIBAWC x #WinForLietuva 🇱🇹 pic.twitter.com/a24UStxpkF
— FIBA (@FIBA) September 3, 2023
Compared to the Team USA, Lithuania played a more balanced game with 7 players in double figures. The team is lead by Vaidas Kariniauskas with 15 pts, followed by Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Jonas Valanciunas, who scored 14 pts and 12 pts, respectively. Valanciunas also grabbed 7 rebs with his 2 blocks.
Lithuania killed the Americans in the second chance points category, making 17 pts against 2 pts from Team USA, 61 – 38 point off the bench. They also shot 52.8% from the field and 56% from three-point range, compare to 37.9% in the 3-pts by the Americans.
The loss is a wake-up call for Team USA, which is still considered the favorite to win the tournament. However, they will need to play better if they want to avoid further upsets.
Despite the loss, Team USA still advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Cup and are qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They will face Italy on Tuesday, while the Lithuania will face Serbia, who are 4 – 1 in the tournament.
Game Highlights
You want some buckets? You gotta earn 'em against JV 😤#FIBAWC x #WinForLietuva pic.twitter.com/zzec9DgDSm
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 3, 2023
This is a basketball movement going on right now.#FIBAWC x #WinForLietuva pic.twitter.com/pJJmFQq3Vm
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 3, 2023
Showtime Lietuva 🇱🇹#FIBAWC #WinForLietuva pic.twitter.com/P9pyL3zIn6
— NBA CHAMPION 🏀 (@NBACHAMPION17) September 3, 2023