Photorealistic split-image of Knicks' Jalen Brunson and Magic's Desmond Bane celebrating NBA Cup quarterfinal wins, with trophy and Las Vegas backdrop for semifinals preview.
Photorealistic split-image of Knicks' Jalen Brunson and Magic's Desmond Bane celebrating NBA Cup quarterfinal wins, with trophy and Las Vegas backdrop for semifinals preview.
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Knicks and Magic advance to NBA Cup semifinals

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The New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-101, while the Orlando Magic beat the Miami Heat 117-108 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2025 NBA Cup. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 35 points, including six 3-pointers, and Desmond Bane scored a season-high 37 points for the Magic. Both teams will face off in Las Vegas on December 13 for a spot in the championship.

The 2025 Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals featured strong performances from the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic, securing their spots in the semifinals.

In the first Eastern Conference matchup, the Magic overcame an early 16-point deficit against the Heat. Orlando trailed after a sluggish start but mounted a comeback with a 39-27 second quarter, eventually winning 117-108. Desmond Bane tied his season high with 37 points, adding three rebounds and three assists. The Magic shot 15-for-32 from 3-point range, flipping their usual script, while Miami went 8-for-33. Orlando played without key two-way player Franz Wagner, who suffered a left high-ankle sprain on Sunday. This victory marked one of the franchise's most significant single-game wins since 2012.

In the second game, the Knicks dominated the Raptors with a 34-13 second quarter, pulling ahead by as many as 24 points in a 117-101 win. Jalen Brunson scored 35 points on 6-of-9 3-point shooting. Josh Hart contributed a season-high 21 points, making 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. The win improved New York's road record from 3-6 to 4-6, a rare away victory before entering the high-stakes semifinal. The Knicks and Magic have met three times this season, with Orlando winning two.

The Raptors struggled offensively, scoring just 13 points in the second quarter amid injuries to RJ Barrett (sprained knee, out nine games) and Immanuel Quickley (illness). Toronto's offensive rating ranked 29th without Barrett.

The semifinals and championship will use a special court design in Las Vegas, featuring the Emirates NBA Cup trophy at center court, an eight-team bracket, and a 5x5 mosaic pattern created by artist Victor Solomon. The Knicks-Magic semifinal is set for Saturday, December 13, with the championship on Tuesday, December 16, both on Prime Video.

What people are saying

Users on X praised Jalen Brunson's 35-point performance leading the Knicks past the Raptors and Desmond Bane's 37 points powering the Magic over the Heat, securing an anticipated semifinal clash in Las Vegas on December 13. Reactions highlight excitement for the matchup, strong team efforts, and fantasy basketball implications, with high engagement on announcements from major sports accounts.

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