The Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Phoenix Suns by 49 points to match the best 25-game start in NBA history, while the San Antonio Spurs upset the Los Angeles Lakers behind Stephon Castle's 30-point performance. In the East, the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic secured their spots with wins over the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, respectively. The semifinals are set for Saturday in Las Vegas.
The 2025 NBA Cup quarterfinals wrapped up with decisive victories that set the stage for an exciting semifinal matchup in Las Vegas. On Wednesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder crushed the Phoenix Suns 138-89, improving to 24-1 on the season and tying the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors for the best 25-game start in league history. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 28 points in under 27 minutes, while Chet Holmgren added 24 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. The Thunder's 16-game win streak now includes this largest margin of victory in the league this season, outscoring opponents by 439 points through 25 games—the best point differential ever. OKC never trailed, hitting 22 three-pointers at 55% and holding Phoenix to a season-low 89 points.
In the other Western Conference quarterfinal, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119, showcasing their depth and speed. Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, erupted for a season-high 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists on 10-of-14 shooting, including three from three-point range in just 27 minutes. The Spurs built leads with runs like 19-6 to end the first quarter and maintained control despite a late Lakers push. De’Aaron Fox contributed 20 points, and the bench added 48. Castle joined Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama as the only Spurs to post 30/10/5 at age 21 or younger. The Lakers, led by Luka Dončić's 35 points, five rebounds, and eight assists, struggled defensively, allowing 132 points.
Earlier on Tuesday, the New York Knicks raced past the Toronto Raptors behind Jalen Brunson's 35 points, including 20 in the first quarter, winning their eighth of nine games to reach 17-7. The Orlando Magic staged a comeback from a 15-0 deficit to beat the Miami Heat, powered by Desmond Bane's 37 points on 14-of-24 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists. Bane, acquired in a massive offseason trade, has averaged 22.2 points during Orlando's 8-3 streak.
The semifinals tip off Saturday: Knicks vs. Magic at 5:30 p.m. ET and Spurs vs. Thunder at 9 p.m. ET, both on Amazon Prime, with the championship on Tuesday, December 16.
