The Emirates NBA Cup shifts to Las Vegas on Saturday, bringing two contrasting semifinals to T-Mobile Arena: the New York Knicks face the Orlando Magic for the fourth time this season, while the Oklahoma City Thunder meet the San Antonio Spurs for the first time in 2025-26.
Eastern Conference semifinal — 5:30 p.m. ET (Prime)
New York Knicks
New York secured its ticket with a 117-101 quarterfinal victory in Toronto on Tuesday, improving its early-season road record after a Cup-opening loss in Chicago. Guard Jalen Brunson poured in 35 points, including 20 in the first quarter, and has topped 30 in three consecutive Cup outings.
Josh Hart, back in the starting lineup following a stint as a reserve while recovering from a finger nerve issue, has provided a spark at both ends. Forward Karl-Anthony Towns delivered his best statistical game of the season during group play, posting 39 points, 11 rebounds and four assists against Miami in mid-November as coach Mike Brown’s ball-movement system continues to take hold.
Orlando Magic
Orlando went 4-0 in group play despite missing Paolo Banchero for three games. Six different players have led the team in scoring this season, highlighting the roster’s depth. The pivotal addition has been Desmond Bane, acquired for four unprotected first-round picks, a swap and two players; he scored 37 points in both the group-clinching win at Detroit and the 117-108 quarterfinal win over Miami.
Banchero returned three games ago, but forward Franz Wagner (high left ankle sprain) will not play in Las Vegas. Wagner averaged 32.5 points in Orlando’s first two victories over New York; without him, the Magic managed only 100 points in Sunday’s 106-100 loss to the Knicks. Orlando will lean on Banchero, Bane, Jalen Suggs and center Wendell Carter Jr. to offset Wagner’s absence, with rookies Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva expected to provide additional versatility.
Western Conference semifinal — 9:00 p.m. ET (Prime)
Oklahoma City Thunder
The defending champions reached Las Vegas for the second straight season after a 49-point quarterfinal rout of Phoenix. Oklahoma City is 5-0 in Cup play with an average winning margin of 24.8 points and owns a league-best +41.4 clutch net rating.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 87 clutch points in 53 minutes. He sealed a late win over Minnesota on Nov. 26 with a steal-and-layup, then scored 10 points in the final 2:40 to fend off Phoenix two nights later. Wednesday’s blowout allowed the Thunder starters to exit with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio topped West Group C at 3-1 despite playing half of its group games without Victor Wembanyama, sidelined since Nov. 14 by a left calf strain. The third-year star rejoined the club this week and logged multiple on-court workouts; coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama is “very much” in contention to play Saturday.
If cleared, it would be Wembanyama’s fifth professional meeting with Thunder center Chet Holmgren. Holmgren’s teams hold a 3-1 edge, including a 123-87 win in last season’s tournament opener when Wembanyama was limited to six points on 1-of-8 shooting. Holmgren had nine points that night, while Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 with seven steals.
The Spurs’ guard trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper combined for 63 points on 24-for-43 shooting in Wednesday’s quarterfinal win over the Lakers — only the second time all three have been healthy this season. Oklahoma City counters with four starting perimeter defenders and reserve stopper Alex Caruso, setting up a speed-versus-length showdown on the wing.
The winners advance to Sunday’s Emirates NBA Cup championship, also in Las Vegas.
Source: ESPN
