Magic and Knicks tip off NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas; Spurs-Thunder follow
nba-cup-semifinals-2025-magic-knicks-spurs-thunder
The NBA Cup moves to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, launching a semifinal doubleheader that will decide the finalists for Tuesday’s championship game.
Early game: New York Knicks vs. Orlando Magic
The opener starts at 5:30 p.m. ET. Orlando arrives after a 117-108 quarterfinal win over the Miami Heat, powered by guard Desmond Bane’s season-high 37 points. The Magic will be without leading scorer Franz Wagner (left ankle sprain), but Paolo Banchero is available after missing nearly a month with a groin injury and logging three games since his return.
New York advanced by defeating the Toronto Raptors 117-101 on Wednesday, a game that featured 10 lead changes before the Knicks pulled away for good early in the second quarter. The victory was the team’s fourth straight and pushed its record to 8-1 since Josh Hart joined the starting lineup.
Saturday’s matchup also reunites Bane and New York’s OG Anunoby after their December 7 incident in which Bane was fined $35,000 for throwing a ball at Anunoby. Both players laughed off the moment after that game.
Late game: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The second semifinal begins at 9 p.m. ET. Defending NBA champion Oklahoma City is 24-1, tying the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best 25-game start in league history, and rides a franchise-record 16-game winning streak. The Thunder reached Las Vegas by routing the Phoenix Suns 138-89, the largest victory margin in any NBA Cup contest since the tournament debuted in 2023-24.
San Antonio earned its spot with a 132-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers despite missing Victor Wembanyama (calf). Rookie guard Stephon Castle delivered 30 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in that game. Wembanyama, sidelined since November 14, is expected to play Saturday.
Winners of the two semifinals will meet in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Source: ESPN
