Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Championship preview

• Emirates NBA Cup Championship: Knicks vs. Spurs (8:30 p.m. ET, Prime)

LAS VEGAS — The journey of the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 initially twisted through 28 cities, making some sharp and unexpected turns, had some surprises, and reached some dead ends. The defending NBA champs did not survive, nor did the current Eastern Conference leader, nor the defending Cup champions.

It’s just the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks who lived to tell, who will either add to their productive seasons with one more victory, or be left to wonder “What if?” should they stumble.

Oh, and there’s money on the line, too, at Tuesday’s championship.

The third installment of this early-season tournament has returned to the desert with different personalities this time. The Spurs are up-and-coming, boosted by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder, which was fortified by the return of their alien, Victor Wembanyama. That win generated debate about top-ranked OKC gaining a rival, although Wembanyama asked for patience.

“We’re not quite there yet,” Wembanyama said, “it’s not like we’re the second seed right now. I don’t think anybody right now can claim to have a rivalry with them in the league. They’re in their own tier. But in the future, if we can provide a stage this good and we reach that level, of course, it would be great to have a rivalry because if you’re at the top and you have a rivalry, it means you’re in the best position to win titles. I’m very interested by it.”

The Knicks are a bit less awed by their presence in the Cup final. They’re an anxious team sitting on the fence of being a championship contender, wondering which way a nudge from the Cup championship game will push them.

Unless something freakish happens and disrupts logic, this should be a suspenseful, tightly-contested and certainly heightened game, given the stakes and the strengths of each team.

The Knicks are an Eastern elite, burned from playoff failures of the last few years, now swollen with confidence that This Could Be The One. The Spurs are the upstarts, hoping to earn the moniker of being a contender, pushing their limits here in a season where much has gone their way.

Speaking of that, to clarify: Wembanyama answered in his first language the other day about the brand of basketball the Spurs play — “pure and ethical” — and some took it out of context, suspecting he was knocking the Thunder. Here is his expounded English answer:

“In modern basketball we see a lot of brands that don’t offer much variety in the dangers they pose to the opponents. Lots of isolation ball. Sometimes kind of forced basketball. We try to propose a brand of basketball that can be described as more old school sometimes, the Spurs’ way, as well. It’s tactically more correct basketball.”

So there, eloquently said.

Anyway, on to the factors for this Cup title game.

Matchups

There are two in particular that should command center stage and serve as big factors in the outcome:

1. Wembanyama vs. Karl-Anthony Towns. Because of the league’s lack of centers who command a hefty role in scoring on their team (only a handful apply), this is a delicious competition between two who can be aggressive and, at times, be the first option of the Spurs and Knicks.Unlike Towns, Wembanyama is still growing his offensive game. He’s a work in progress, a scary thought considering he dropped roughly a point a minute Saturday against the defensive-minded Thunder. Like Towns, Wembanyama can stretch his game and must be respected when he gets 20 feet from the rim. He’s also 7-foot-5.“We’re not going to be able to guard a guy like that 1-on-1,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown, who was either being truthful or issuing a challenge to Towns, or maybe both. “Because of his size and skill-set, nine times out of 10 he’s going to miss because he misses.”Just the same, checking Towns with a lone defender is a most risky strategy, if not an impossible one. He’s at home at the 3-point stripe and has the girth to score off the dribble and into the paint.But here’s a twist: Towns’ defense has been superb lately. Also, Wembanyama might be the best defensive player in the league. This matchup is intriguing because it won’t be confined to one end of the floor.
2. Brunson vs. the Spurs guards. Brunson is an aggressive and relentless player with the ball. He’s always looking for the angles, always trying to make contact with the defender, always trying to gain leverage any way possible and rarely suffers from a lack of confidence when he misses shots.That’s why he’s averaging 28.8 points, once again establishing himself in a small elite class of NBA scorers (seventh currently) and why he will likely be a handful no matter whom the Spurs toss his way. Good news for the Spurs — they have options. De’Aaron Fox is quicker than Brunson and can score. Stephon Castle has been the most impactful Spur throughout the NBA Cup games. And Dylan Harper is so poised and mature for a rookie.Yes, they must deal with Brunson, but the Knicks also must deal with them.

What’s at stake for the Spurs

This is a stepping stone opportunity for a team that appears to be ahead of schedule in its development. Remember: the Spurs were 34-48 last season, missed the playoffs, and yes, much had to do with Wembanyama missing a chunk of it following a deep vein thrombosis.

Still, there’s an accelerated flavor with these youthful Spurs. They announced their arrival in an emphatic way on opening night when they backhanded the Dallas Mavericks and have surged since — even without Wembanyama, out three weeks with a calf strain.

Aside from veteran Harrison Barnes, a champion with the Golden State Warriors, the vast majority of players in the Spurs’ rotation have never won anything in the NBA. OK, sure, Fox lit the beam a few times in Sacramento. Otherwise, meh.

A victory Tuesday reaffirms that San Antonio is on the move and will command a measure of respect in the West. A loss doesn’t cause much big-picture concern. The Spurs are somewhat happy to get this far, yet realize they belong as well.

“We know that this is a process, a long process,” Fox said. “We’re continuing to get better. Some would say we’re a little bit ahead of schedule, but I think we’re right where we need to be.”

What’s at stake for the Knicks

They’re playing for a championship. That alone is newsworthy in a Big City that celebrates first-round playoff wins by dancing in the Manhattan streets. Considering the Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973, the NBA Cup would sound nice enough. They may even hang a banner in the Garden.

“We feel like we deserve to be here,” said Brown. “We want to take advantage of being here by going out and trying to get this win.”

As for the meaning of a Cup title for their psyche, it does a measure of wonder for a team with big aspirations, a new coach and one that feels the East is up for grabs. The Knicks are right in the mix and can use a Cup title as a receipt. The Knicks want to sip champagne in June and a win Tuesday can go a little way in helping make that somewhat realistic.

The Knicks win if …

New York musters up the defense, which the Knicks are fully qualified and capable of doing. The Knicks are allowing the fourth-fewest points per game (112.2). OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are athletic wings who can get physical if necessary (especially Anunoby) and guard the perimeter. That’s why it’s hard to trick the Knicks into mismatches.

Towns has been solid, too, especially on the glass. If the defense can force turnovers and contain the quickness of the Spurs’ guards (especially Fox), this could fall New York’s way.

The Spurs win if …

Wembanyama makes the most of his limited playing time. The Spurs realize there’s something at stake in this game, but at the same time, Wembanyama will play for just the second time since the calf strain. The minutes restriction will be in effect. They’re not taking any chances, nor should they.

Or, maybe they won’t need to push him if his teammates respond the way they did through much of his absence.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can email him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.