Brunson drops 40 as Knicks surge past Magic and reach the NBA Cup Final

For the first time in more than 25 years, the New York Knicks are heading to a championship game of any kind. Behind a scorching 40 points from Jalen Brunson, they handled the Orlando Magic 132-120 in Las Vegas to punch their ticket to the NBA Cup Final.

Brunson was sensational from start to finish, shooting 16-27, dealing 8 assists, and delivering the moment of the night late in the third quarter when he dropped Anthony Black with a stepback before drilling a three. Even in a largely neutral arena, that move drew a surge of noise from the crowd.

The Knicks built an early cushion in the second half, going up 81-71, but the Magic countered with nine straight points to take their own 89-85 lead midway through the third. That would be the last real push Orlando managed. The Knicks closed the quarter on a burst, carried it into the fourth with a 9-0 run, and held a steady two-possession lead or more the rest of the way. The Magic never got closer than six in the final minutes.

Karl-Anthony Towns delivered 29 points, while OG Anunoby added 24 and three steals, again flashing the defensive presence that has defined his season. Off the bench, Tyler Kolek quietly put together one of the most impactful performances of the night. His four points hardly told the story: he grabbed three rebounds, handed out four assists, finished with a team-high plus-18, and completely shifted the tempo when he entered. One of the game’s key plays came after Josh Hart scored early in the second quarter – Kolek jumped the inbound pass and instantly fed Mikal Bridges under the rim for two more.

It was a fitting redemption arc for the Knicks, who lost their first two matchups of the season to the Magic, including their only home defeat. But this is not the same team. They have now won five straight, nine of their last ten, and look like a group perfectly built for the moment.

Next up is a shot that carries echoes of 1999. The Knicks’ last finals appearance ended against the San Antonio Spurs – and now, 26 years later, they see that same franchise standing between them and a trophy – a different one.

The Spurs advanced after a tense win over Oklahoma City, powered by Victor Wembanyama’s return. Off the bench and limited to 21 minutes, Wembanyama still dropped 22 points and helped erase a 16-point deficit.

The question now follows naturally: can the Knicks contain him? Tuesday will bring the answer, and bring the Knicks their biggest stage in decades.