The fantastic Jaylen Branson set a franchise record in the NBA Finals with 45 points and almost single-handedly ended the New York Knicks' 53-year wait for an NBA title.
The team from the Big Apple defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Texas with a score of 94:90 and with a 4:1 series lead became champions for the first time since 1953.
Branson scored 29 points in the second half of Game 5 as New York overcame a 15-point deficit from the third quarter.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, just one game after they overcame a 29-point deficit in Game 4 in New York to beat the Spurs.
Branson hit four three-pointers and recorded his fourth game in the series with at least 30 points, which earned him the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Branson broke the franchise record of 38 points set by Willis Reed in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mikal Bridges scored 14 points, while Josh Hart added 13 and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Knicks.
For San Antonio, Dylan Harper scored 25 points, while Victor Wembanyama added 19 points, along with 14 rebounds and five blocks. Julian Champagne scored 14 points and Devin Vassell had 12.
New York was down 10 with eight minutes left when Branson took charge and scored 10 straight points to tie the game at 83-83 with 4:48 left. During that run, he repeatedly broke through the Spurs defense and put the ball in the basket.
Vassel then scored to give San Antonio the lead (85:83) with 4:14 left. Just 34 seconds later, Branson was fouled on a three-point shot and hit all three free throws to give the Knicks the lead.
Shortly after, Harper scored to tie the game at 88-88 with 1:16 left. However, Branson broke through the defense again and hit a floater with one minute and five seconds left.
Hart and Anunoby each hit one of two free throws, giving New York a four-point lead with 21,6 seconds left.
Vembanyama missed a three-pointer on the Spurs' next drive, but Stephon Castle dunked after an offensive rebound to cut the lead to 92:90 with 16,3 seconds left.
Bridges hit one of two free throws with 8,8 seconds left for a three-point lead, before Harper missed both free throws with 8,5 seconds left.
Anunoby then hit one of two free throws with 7,7 seconds left to seal the game. A huge celebration could begin - both on the floor of the "Frox Bank Center" in San Antonio and on the streets of Manhattan.
The Knicks shot just 35,6 percent from the field (31 out of 87 attempts), including 12 three-pointers out of 37 attempts.
On the other hand, San Antonio's percentages weren't much better either - 38,4 percent (33 out of 86), with also 12 three-pointers out of 37 attempts.
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