The New Yorkers close the series in game 5: in the 4-1 match Jalen Brunson – named MVP of the Finals – is once again decisive, author of a legendary 45-point performance
The NBA bows to the New York Knicks. Coach Brown’s team gives a fan base that has been subject to disappointment for the last 27 years the title that has been missing since 1973. The Knicks produce another performance of great personality, they also go down by 15 points in the third quarter and by 10 in the last quarter, but they hold on to an absolutely stellar Brunson (45 points) and make yet another sensational comeback of this magical postseason. New York wins Game 5 94-90 in San Antonio and thus wins the NBA title.
the race
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The Garden seems to have moved to Texas as many Knicks fans turn the stands of the Frost Bank Center blue. The script of the first quarter of these Finals is always the same, New York starts in slow motion and the Spurs are grateful. Wemby is everywhere on defense and not only makes three blocks in the first three minutes, but forces the Knicks to take rushed shots. In attack, San Antonio only partially takes advantage of this but with the usual impact from Harper’s bench the home team, as it has promptly done in all the first quarters of these five games, reaches a double-digit lead. Brunson and Anunoby are the only guests to score, the Knicks thus close the first half down 23-13 after shooting 4/22 from the field and producing more turnovers, six, than baskets, four in fact. The hosts keep their foot on the accelerator even at the beginning of the second quarter, they reach +16 but as soon as Wemby goes to the bench to take a breath the attack goes haywire. Kornet is a disaster and Fox continues to make an incredible effort and make truly bizarre plays. Brunson picks up the pace and the triples start to come in, little by little the Knicks get back into the match. Castle’s 0/7 in the first half certainly doesn’t help, Wemby is also struggling in attack, a couple of triples from Bridges bring New York closer and they have now taken over San Antonio. Vassell’s basket at the end closes a first half that sees the Spurs with water in their throats going into the locker room five points ahead. It’s a luxury for New York who in the first two quarters shot 34% from the field and 29% from three.
San Antonio also started better in the second half with Wemby decidedly aggressive, the Texan team started to move the ball well in attack and defend with order and returned to the double-digit lead, with 5’30” left in the half but the Frenchman took a huge risk. On Brunson’s triple Wemby extends his foot to take the space of the Knicks player who complains a lot. The referees don’t blow the whistle and don’t go to see him again for a possible Flagrant, making the Knicks quite angry. San Antonio regains control of operations and returns to +15 three minutes from the third quarter but once again the visiting team closes the third period well, with a super Brunson, and reaches -7 at the beginning of the last quarter.
comeback and overtaking
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The leader of the Knicks goes to take a breather on the bench for a couple of minutes, the Spurs return to the double-digit lead but as soon as Brunson returns, things change. 10 points behind are nothing for these Knicks, the Spurs know this well and start playing contracts. An incandescent Brunson then kicks off the 15-2 run that puts the guests back ahead and makes the many New York fans in the stands go into ecstasy. Castle and Fox are a disaster and the Spurs don’t score anymore, Wemby also starts to miss very heavy free throws, Brunson thanks them and keeps the New York team in front, Hart and Anonuby then from the line give the +4 with 21” which brings the finish line very close. Castle finds his first basket of the game and Bridges making 1/2 from the line eight seconds from the siren doesn’t definitively close the score. Harper on the other hand even scores 0/2, this time it’s really over because Anunoby’s free throw ends everything. The Knicks are NBA champions.
San Antonio: Harper 25 (8/15, 2/4, 3/6 TL), Wembanyama 19, Champagnie 14. Rebounds: Wembanyama 14. Assists: Fox 5. New York: Brunson 45 (10/20, 4/7, 13/15 TL), Bridges 14, Hart 13. Rebounds: Hart 11. Assists: Bridges 4.
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