The New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Cup championship with a 132-120 victory over the Orlando Magic in the East semifinal. Jalen Brunson led the way with 40 points and 8 assists, while the Magic struggled after Jalen Suggs exited with a hip injury. The Knicks will face the winner of the Spurs-Thunder matchup.
The New York Knicks secured their spot in the NBA Cup championship by defeating the Orlando Magic 132-120 on December 14, 2025. This marks the Knicks' first appearance in the tournament's final, having reached the knockout round in all three editions of the NBA Cup.
Jalen Brunson was the standout performer, scoring 40 points and dishing out 8 assists. His performance included passing Richie Guerin for the third-most 30-plus point games in Knicks history, with his 88th such outing. Brunson tallied 11 points in the first quarter, 25 by halftime, 37 by the end of the third, and finished with his season-high output.
The Knicks built momentum with a strong second quarter, leading 71-64 at halftime after scoring 42 points in the paint and shooting 63% from the field. They ended the third quarter on a 15-3 run to lead 100-92, despite the Magic briefly taking an 87-85 lead earlier in the period. New York shot just 7-of-20 from three-point range but dominated inside.
For the Magic, ranked fifth in defensive efficiency entering the game, the absence of Franz Wagner hurt their perimeter defense. Jalen Suggs led with 26 points, including a first-half career-high of 25, but managed only 1 point after halftime and left in the fourth quarter with a sore left hip, listed as questionable to return. Paolo Banchero contributed 25 points and 8 rebounds.
Other key Knicks contributors included Karl-Anthony Towns with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block; OG Anunoby with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block; and Mikal Bridges with 10 points. The victory earns each Knicks player $205,998 in prize money, with $514,971 on the line in the championship against the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Oklahoma City Thunder semifinal. Magic players receive $102,994.
