The Emirates NBA Cup reaches its decisive stage this weekend, with the semifinals tipping off in Las Vegas before Tuesday’s championship game crowns the next Cup winner. Saturday brings two heavyweight matchups: the Orlando Magic vs. the New York Knicks at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by the San Antonio Spurs taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder at 9 p.m. ET. Let’s see which teams are the favourites at PayPerHead.
How to Watch the NBA Cup Semifinals
- Date: Saturday, December 13
- Time: Semi 1 5:30 pm ET / Semi 2 9:00 pm ET
- Broadcast: Prime Video
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena
Knicks’ Statement Shot vs Magic’s Underdog Push
Orlando enters this semifinal with a real opportunity to change how the league sees them. Beating the Knicks, especially without Franz Wagner, would force everyone to take their ceiling seriously. It also puts the spotlight directly on Paolo Banchero. With Wagner out, the volume is his, and this is the kind of stage where franchise players prove they’re more than potential. A clean, efficient offensive night against a disciplined New York defense could be the spark his season has been missing.
New York, meanwhile, sees something bigger than a Cup semifinal. With the East wide open and no clear powerhouse, this is their chance to plant a flag and signal that the conference goes through them. Ending a 50-year banner drought, even with a Cup title, carries real weight for the franchise and its fan base. And with the possibility of facing the Thunder or Lakers in the final, winning here gives the Knicks a rare chance to silence the annual “Leastern Conference” narrative and stake their claim on a national stage.
Spurs’ Cup Momentum Collides With Thunder’s Machine
The Thunder come in looking unstoppable. Their 24-1 record, 16 straight wins, and +17.5 point differential already set the tone, but the 49-point blowout of Phoenix in the NBA Cup Quarterfinals took it to another level. OKC crushed the Suns 138–89 as Shai
Gilgeous-Alexander posted 28 points in under 27 minutes, barely needing to push. Now 72-10 in regular-season play since last year’s Cup Finals loss, the Thunder look like a team determined to finish what they couldn’t a year ago.
San Antonio arrives with real momentum, too. Stephon Castle’s season-high 30 points, plus six other Spurs in double figures, powered them past Luka Dončić and the Lakers to reach the Semifinals. Their Cup run has been impressive: Houston, Denver, and Los Angeles have all fallen, leaving the Spurs to beat three of the four teams ahead of them in the West. Winners of four of their last five with a rotating cast of leading scorers, they’re showing depth, rhythm, and growing confidence at the right time.
Vegas Predictions: Two Matchups, Two Winners
Magic vs. Knicks Prediction
Orlando’s ceiling rises if they win without Franz, but New York’s depth and late-game stability give them the edge in a close one.
Predicted Score: Knicks 112–106 Magic
Spurs vs. Thunder Prediction
San Antonio is rolling, but OKC’s pace, depth, and Cup momentum make them tough to match for four quarters.
Predicted Score: Thunder 121–108 Spurs
