The final of the third edition of the NBA Cup is already served and comes with the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. The Knicks arrived led by Jalen Brunson with the possibility of fighting for a title that the franchise has not celebrated since 1973. New York previously defeated the Orlando Magic 120-132 in the East semifinal.
The NBA Cup is a mid-season tournament that emerged in the 2023-24 campaign, with the Los Angeles Lakers as the first champion, while in 2024-25, the Milwaukee Bucks won the title. Each player on the winning team will receive $477,840 after the final is played.
The final will test two big stars: Jalen Brunson of the Knicks and Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs. San Antonio earned its pass by beating the Thunder 111-109, ending their 16-game winning streak and preventing them from winning the NBA Cup after the Championship.
The Spurs, with a record of 18-7, became the second team to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in 26 games this season.
Wemby’s return to the field after a month’s absence due to a calf strain did not disappoint. Coming off the bench for the first time in his career (130 games), Wembanyama’s 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes are just the beginning of his impact.
The final between the Knicks and Spurs refers to the 1999 NBA Finals match, when San Antonio of the Western Conference faced New York of the Eastern Conference for the title.
In the event of a victory for New York, it gives them the opportunity to show that they can compete for an NBA title.
The Knicks have yet to face a top-5 team in the West this season and will do so when they face the Spurs.
The matchup, while nowhere near the significance of the NBA Finals, will provide insight into whether one of the East’s top two teams can compete with any of the West’s top five teams.
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