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Knicks, Spurs battle in Emirates NBA Cup Championship

Power Rankings, Week 9: Rockets, Pistons and Knicks move up

The Knicks defeated the Spurs to claim the Emirates NBA Cup for 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

What we know after Tuesday night’s game:

  • The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113 in Las Vegas, claiming the Emirates NBA Cup for 2025.
  • Jalen Brunson (33.2 ppg in NBA Cup play) was named MVP of the tournament.
  • This is the first trophy for the Knicks since the 1973 NBA Championship.

12:20 AM / DECEMBER 17, 2025

A special night for the Knicks


11:41 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Brunson and Hart share thoughts on the win

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart spoke to the NBA Nightcap crew on Prime after earning the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup.

“Things aren’t always going to be as you planned. It was an ugly game,” said Brunson. “But staying connected, staying focused… is important.”

Hart noted that the Knicks have grown over the season.

“The last couple games, when we have adverse situations, we’re able to put our head down and get stops, get buckets,” said Hart. “Having that adversity early in the season gives us confidence down the road.”


11:31 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

The stars for New York

  • OG Anunoby (28 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast, 5 3pm)
  • Jalen Brunson (25 pts, 8 ast)
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (16 pts, 10 reb)
  • Jordan Clarkson (15 pts, 3 3pm)
  • Tyler Kolek (14 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast)
  • Josh Hart (11 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk)
  • Mitchell Robinson (15 reb, 2 blk)

11:16 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Jalen Brunson named Emirates NBA Cup MVP

Brunson called out OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell Robinson for their efforts before answering questions from Taylor Rooks, noting that they were instrumental to the team’s win.

“We’re going to find a way,” said Brunson. “That’s going to be our motto going forward: we’re going to find a way.”


11:14 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

‘I feel like we’re in New York right now’

Mike Brown is hyped as the Knicks take home the Emirates NBA Cup.


11:11 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Knicks win the Emirates NBA Cup

New York stand up!

For the first time since 1973, the New York Knicks have won a trophy in the National Basketball Association.

Tyler Kolek (14 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) gave the Knicks a late boost to push them over the top, scoring or assisting on their last three baskets.

Stay tuned to see who will be named the Emirates NBA Cup MVP.


10:58 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Two minutes to go

With the NBA Cup on the line. Knicks are up 118-110 after a clutch three from OG Anunoby. Tyler Kolek delivered an on-target pass while leaping underneath the basket to find him.

“Effort level incredibly high,” said Ian Eagle.

Kolek is +11 in 19 minutes so far.


10:46 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

A close one with six minutes to go

108-102 Knicks with half of the fourth quarter remaining.

Tyler Kolek (10 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast) has provided clutch minutes off the bench for the Knicks, as has Mitchell Robinson (15 reb).


10:38 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Knicks take the lead

100-95 Knicks after an 13-1 run, including two threes by Jordan Clarkson and one from OG Anunoby (25 pts).

New York now has 30 second-chance points on the night.


10:26 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Wemby makes his presence felt

10 straight points for Victor Wembanyama (17 pts, 6 reb), but the Knicks are hanging tough. 94-87 San Antonio with under a minute to go in the third.

“What can’t he do?” Dwyane Wade asked.

“Uh, nothing,” answered Stan Van Gundy.


10:20 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Towns’ tenacity

Back-to-back buckets off offensive rebounds for Karl-Anthony Towns (16 pts, 10 reb) after the Spurs had opened up a 12-point lead.

82-75 Knicks with 5:06 to go in the third.


10:09 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Brunson keeps battling

Jalen Brunson (17 pts on 17 shots) has had to fight for his buckets tonight, but the Knicks’ floor general keeps working.

“He just has no quit in him,” noted Dwyane Wade.

Jalen Brunson's shot chart

Jalen Brunson’s shot chart so far.


10:01 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

The second half is underway on Prime

De’Aaron Fox opens the third quarter with six straight points, cueing the Spurs with the Emirates NBA Cup on the line.


9:44 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Spurs up two at the half

61-59 Spurs at the half in a close-run battle.

First half highlights between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks.

The Spurs have seemed more likely to take control, but OG Anunoby (20 pts on 8-of-10 shooting) and Jalen Brunson (16 pts) have been tireless in keeping the Knicks in it.

“We’ve got to bring it up to another notch,” said Stephon Castle at the halftime break.

Who will take home the Emirates NBA Cup? The second half is coming up on Prime.


9:41 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Castle making moves

Look out for Stephon Castle pirouetting into the lane to get the Spurs into their early offense, using his athleticism, lift and vision to find shooters.

He has seven assists so far — and Stan Van Gundy, claiming a “Stan crush,” wants to give him his eighth.


9:28 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Vassell with the vertical

Devin Vassell just put up a poster jam off a dime from Stephon Castle. Long, lanky and athletic, Vassell’s leading the Spurs with 9 points so far.


9:25 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Spurs stay up

46-40 Spurs with 6:59 to go in the half.

The Knicks have gone with Mitchell Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the front court.

Victor Wembanyama countered their first attempt at bully-ball on the offensive glass, swatting a shot underneath the rim and preventing a bucket as the Knicks grabbed four offensive rebounds on the last possession.


9:09 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Spurs up by a bucket after one

It’s 30-28 Spurs after the first quarter of the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.

San Antonio has a slight advantage in field goal percentage, shooting 52 percent to 48 percent for the Knicks, including this slick finish by Dylan Harper.

Only three combined turnovers so far. Both teams have been focused as they pursue a trophy for their franchise and fans.


9:03 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

A close battle early

Knicks 26-23 with 1:55 to go in the first quarter. OG Anunoby leads the Knicks with 10 points, while Devin Vassell has 7 for San Antonio.

Victor Wembanyama, being guarded by Anunoby, is working his way into the game with 2 points on 1-of-4 shooting so far.


8:45 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Towns opens the scoring

Karl-Anthony Towns hit a tough contested three over Luke Kornet to open the scoring in Las Vegas.

Just beforehand, Stephon Castle successfully cut off Jalen Brunson in the high post, as Brunson sought to get into his series of shifting isolation moves.

That matchup will be key tonight — keep an eye on it.


8:15 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

The energy is building

Feel the vibes in Las Vegas. Tip off Is only a few minutes away.


7:00 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Follow the journeys of the Knicks and Spurs

Get hyped before tip off.


6:30 PM / DECEMBER 16, 2025

Welcome to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game!

Tonight, the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks play for the Emirates NBA Cup (8:30 ET, Prime), seeking to claim hardware for their fans and celebrate a championship!

Victor Wembanayama (25.8 ppg, 12.6 reb, 3.8 ast, 50.4 FG%) has averaged 32.0 ppg against the Knicks in his career — the highest against any opposing team.

He’ll go up against Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson tonight, traditional bigs who may struggle to contest his mobility on the perimeter, although they should be able to battle him in the post.

Jalen Brunson (28.8 ppg, 3.1 reb, 6.4 ast) faces a squad full of talented guards, including De’Aaron Fox (23.9 ppg, 6.2 ast) and the 2024-25 Kia Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (18.4 ppg, 6.1 reb, 6.9 ast).

Castle’s height, strength and quickness could prove difficult for Brunson.

He’s holding opposing scorers to -8.4% worse shooting on two-point shots this season, while Brunson loves to get in the lane for floaters and stepbacks.

But no one has managed to slow down the Knicks captain during this year’s Emirates NBA Cup tournament. He’s put up 34.8 points per game during NBA Cup play, shooting 56 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has more for you on tonight’s matchup.

It ought to be a great game. The Spurs can cement their status as contenders in the West and bring home the first bit of glory in Wemby’s increasingly-impressive career. The Knicks can win their first NBA trophy since 1973, avenging their loss in the 1999 NBA Finals in the process.

All eyes are on the NBA in the City of Lights tonight.



Caio Rocha

Sou Caio Rocha, redator especializado em Tecnologia da Informação, com formação em Ciência da Computação. Escrevo sobre inovação, segurança digital, software e tendências do setor. Minha missão é traduzir o universo tech em uma linguagem acessível, ajudando pessoas e empresas a entenderem e aproveitarem o poder da tecnologia no dia a dia.

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