NBA Cup Semifinals: Road to the Finals Begins in Las Vegas
The NBA Cup is shifting to Las Vegas on Saturday, with the semifinals set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena. The doubleheader will feature two exciting matchups, starting with the New York Knicks facing the Orlando Magic at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder taking on the San Antonio Spurs at 9 p.m. ET. The winners of each matchup will advance to the finals, which are scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The Orlando Magic are coming off a thrilling 117-108 win over the Miami Heat in the quarterfinals, led by a season-high 37 points from guard Desmond Bane. Although the Magic will be without leading scorer Franz Wagner due to a left ankle sprain, they will have Paolo Banchero back in the lineup. Banchero missed nearly a month due to a groin injury but has appeared in Orlando’s previous three games. According to NBA.com, Banchero’s return is a significant boost to the team’s chances of advancing to the finals.
Knicks’ Recent Success
The New York Knicks, on the other hand, are on a four-game winning streak, including a 117-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday. The Knicks’ recent success can be attributed to the insertion of guard Josh Hart into the starting lineup, with the team going 8-1 since the change. As reported by ESPN, Hart’s addition has brought a new level of energy and competitiveness to the team.
Notably, Desmond Bane was fined $35,000 by the NBA for firing a basketball at New York’s OG Anunoby in an unsportsmanlike manner when the teams met on December 7. However, the two players were able to laugh off the incident after the game, showing a level of sportsmanship and respect for each other. According to NBA News, the incident did not seem to affect the teams’ performance in their subsequent games.
Thunder’s Historic Run
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the only team in the semifinals with previous experience in Las Vegas, having reached the NBA Cup final last season. However, this year, they come to Sin City as defending NBA champions and are in the midst of a historic run. The Thunder are 24-1, matching the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best start through 25 games in NBA history, and have won 16 straight games, a franchise record. As reported by CBS Sports, the Thunder’s dominant performance has made them a strong contender for the NBA Cup title.
The Thunder defeated the Phoenix Suns 138-89 in the quarterfinals, the largest margin of victory in any NBA Cup game since the format was implemented in 2023-24. According to NBA Stats, the Thunder’s impressive performance was led by their strong offense, which has been averaging over 120 points per game throughout the season.
Spurs’ Big Win
The San Antonio Spurs, on the other hand, are coming off a big 132-119 win against the Los Angeles Lakers in the quarterfinals. Despite missing Victor Wembanyama due to a calf injury, guard Stephon Castle dropped 30 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win. Wembanyama is expected to play on Saturday, which will be a significant boost to the team’s chances of advancing to the finals. As reported by Fox Sports, the Spurs’ victory was a testament to their depth and resilience as a team.
Who will clinch a spot in the NBA Cup finals? Follow along for the top moments, highlights, and reactions from the semifinals. The stage is set for an exciting weekend of basketball in Las Vegas, and fans can expect intense competition and thrilling matchups. For more information and updates, visit NBA.com.
