The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 semifinals take place Saturday in Las Vegas, featuring the New York Knicks against the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. The winners advance to the championship on December 16, with $500,000 prize money per player on the line for the victors. All four teams arrived in Vegas on Thursday, practicing and meeting the media Friday ahead of the matchups on Prime Video.
Semifinals Matchups
The Eastern Conference semifinal pits the Knicks (17-10 overall, 4-1 in NBA Cup) against the Magic (15-10 overall, 5-0 in NBA Cup) at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Knicks boast the league's second-ranked offense at 121.8 points per 100 possessions and lead in shooting opportunities differential (+4.6). Jalen Brunson has scored 30 or more points in every matchup against Orlando this season, while the Magic rely on fast breaks (30.2% of points, league-high) and elite defense, allowing the fewest 3-point attempts per 100 possessions (31.5). Orlando's Paolo Banchero returns from injury, but Franz Wagner's status remains uncertain.
In the Western Conference, the Spurs (17-7 overall, 4-1 in NBA Cup) face the Thunder (24-1 overall, 5-0 in NBA Cup) at 9 p.m. ET. Victor Wembanyama is expected back from a calf strain, providing a matchup against Chet Holmgren. The Thunder hold the best net rating in NBA history (+17.2) and dominate the paint (+13.6 points differential per game). San Antonio has improved on both ends, ranking second in clutch offense (131.9 points per 100 possessions), led by De’Aaron Fox.
Media Day Highlights
Coaches and stars, including Jamahl Mosley, Paolo Banchero, Mike Brown, Jalen Brunson, Mark Daigneault, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitch Johnson, and Victor Wembanyama, spoke Friday. The Thunder seek redemption after last year's final loss. Prize money escalates to $212,373 per player for semifinal wins and $530,933 for the championship. All games occur at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with practices emphasizing preparation for high-stakes play.
These semifinals offer a glimpse of playoff intensity, with the Thunder as heavy favorites but the other teams showing marked improvement.
