Nova Knicks Celebrate Their Victory

Friends have a way of poking fun at one another, and that’s exactly what happened when the Nova Knicks appeared on the Today show Monday morning.

When Jalen Brunson was asked why Madison Square Garden is an ideal wedding venue—especially since celebrity fan Taylor Swift is supposedly tying the knot there this summer—he couldn’t resist teasing teammate Josh Hart about a memorable moment from Game 4.

“You know, many great things unfold there, like when you’re down by one and miss a wide-open layup,” Brunson joked, putting his hand on his heart.

Hart quickly fired back, “I wanted to create an epic final play. Honestly, if I hadn’t messed up that layup, we wouldn’t have set up that tip-in by OG.” He added, “I was just trying to be a good teammate.”

That missed layup almost put a dent in the Knicks’ historic comeback—where they rallied from a 29-point deficit with only two minutes remaining in the game.

After two unexpected missed free throws by Victor Wembanyama and a basket from Brunson, they were set up for the crucial tip-in by OG Anunoby, sealing the fate of Game 4.

“I knew Josh would get yelled at for missing that layup, but I’m relieved we can laugh about it now,” Brunson shared, admitting it wasn’t funny at the moment.

This extraordinary comeback shifted the series’ momentum, leading the Knicks to win Game 5 and clinch the series—marking their first time since 1973.

Brunson also excelled in this series, scoring a remarkable 45 points in a late-game surge.

The Nova Knicks, comprising Brunson, Hart, and Mikal Bridges, now have another trophy to add to their collection, having previously won the 2016 National Championship with Villanova.

Looking ahead, the trio is focused on aiming for back-to-back championships next season.

But first, they will celebrate with a parade and a trip down the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday.