The city that never sleeps is even more awake tonight. The Knicks won their first NBA title in 53 years by beating the San Antonio Spurs 94 to 90 led by Jalen Brunson, the heart and soul of the team, who scored 45 points. A victory that made New York explode: a liberating scream of joy rose from the thousands of people gathered in front of the giant screens set up throughout the city, invaded by blue and orange colors. «History», wrote mayor Zohran Mamdani.
‘Empire State of Mind’, the song by Jay-Z and Alicia Key, resonates in the streets. Fans chant “who let the dogs out?” echoing the Knicks coach who they follow step by step on the television screens. The police are on alert to avoid accidents but controlling the crowd, especially near Madison Square Garden, is not easy for the officers. A police car in the area was damaged during the match by fans who climbed into it. Traffic is completely at a standstill with Knicks fans invading the streets but the cars don’t seem to be in a hurry and want to celebrate. In San Antonio, where the game was played, the players are in tears. Brunson, after hugging his father, former NBA player Rick Brunson, on the sidelines, managed to say only a few words to ESPN’s microphones before going on stage wearing a black t-shirt with the word NBA Champion and raising the trophy. The Knicks have won 4 games against the Spurs, who have only won one. In Game 5 in San Antonio they had to come back, as had happened in the previous match. The last four minutes were full of tension. A mid-range shot by Brunson with one minute and five seconds left gave the Knicks a 90-88 lead. Wembanyama tried to take the Spours by the hand in the final minutes, but couldn’t. At the end of the match, evidently frustrated, he immediately left the field. He scored 19 points in the game, and when his final three-point attempt failed, the Big Apple exploded with joy. For New York, the victory is worth history, much more than the World Cup that has just begun.