Knicks take down Nielsen's Spurs for NBA Cup title

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San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Matthew Nielsen was on the brink of making history but it wasn't to be.

The former Boomers skipper could have become the first Aussie to win an Emirates NBA Cup championship as the Spurs took on the New York Knicks in Las Vegas, however Mike Brown's Knicks were too good, claiming a 124-113 victory.

Despite the loss, the NBA Cup was somewhat of a breakout tournament for the young Spurs, who claimed several big scalps along the way, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, where San Antonio snapped their 16-game winning streak in the semi-finals.

Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson was named MVP of the NBA Cup with each player and head coach for the Knicks netting more than USD $500,000 as a result of the win.

Nielsen has been an assistant coach for the Spurs since 2021 after coaching the franchise's G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. He was also an assistant for Trevor Gleeson at the Perth Wildcats from 2015-2019.

NBA BOX SCORE: New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs

New York Knicks defeated San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in the NBA Cup Championship. OG Anunoby's outstanding 28-point performance powered the Knicks to victory.

Key Details

• Result: New York Knicks 124 def. San Antonio Spurs 113
• When: 17th December 2024
• Standings: The game did not count towards the regular season standings and records

By the Numbers

• OG Anunoby (New York Knicks) starred with 28 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block in 40 minutes.
• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs) scored 21 points, and had seven rebounds in 28 minutes.

What Happened

The Knicks established their dominance early, opening with a solid 28-point first quarter before matching the Spurs' 31-point second period to enter halftime locked at 59-all.

New York's balanced offensive attack proved decisive as they outscored San Antonio 30-33 in the third quarter, setting up a thrilling final period where they sealed the championship with a 35-19 fourth-quarter blitz.

OG Anunoby's exceptional shooting efficiency was the cornerstone of New York's triumph, converting 10-from-17 from the field including an impressive 5-from-10 from downtown. His ability to score from multiple levels, combined with solid rebounding, provided the Knicks with the consistent offensive threat they needed throughout the contest.

Jalen Brunson complemented Anunoby's stellar performance with 25 points and eight assists, though his 11-from-27 shooting from the field showed the defensive pressure applied by San Antonio. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed a solid double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Mitchell Robinson dominated the glass with 15 boards despite scoring just four points.

For the Spurs, Dylan Harper's 21 points on efficient 7-from-14 shooting provided their primary offensive spark, while Victor Wembanyama added 18 points and six rebounds.

However, De'Aaron Fox struggled with his shot selection, managing just 16 points on 5-from-13 shooting, and the team's inability to contain New York's fourth-quarter surge proved costly.

The Knicks' superior shooting percentage was the defining factor, converting 47% of their field goal attempts compared to the Spurs' 41%. New York's dominance on the boards, collecting 59 rebounds to San Antonio's 42, provided crucial second-chance opportunities that helped them pull away in crunch time.

The championship victory showcases the Knicks' depth and offensive versatility, with seven players contributing meaningful minutes in their title-winning performance.