The New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs will contest the NBA Cup Finals on Tuesday, December 16, looking to shake the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent dominance of the league.
The Knicks (18-7) and Spurs (18-7) will play starting at 5:30 p.m. local time (01:30 GMT Wednesday) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the arena that has hosted every NBA Cup Final Four since its founding in 2023. New York and San Antonio are looking to add their names to a roster that already includes the Los Angeles Lakers (2023) and Milwaukee Bucks (2024).
Wemby’ revulsive
“When I get back on the court, [the best player in the NBA] will be me.” – Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/QElN0ASS8H
– Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) December 14, 2025
Few were betting on a winner other than the Thunder, but the reigning NBA champions and this season’s dominators stumbled Saturday in the semifinals against the Spurs, a team that emulates Oklahoma City’s model of growing through the draft.
The heart of this young team is Victor Wembanyama, who was decisive on Saturday against the Thunder despite making his comeback from the bench after a month out with injury.
With Wembanyama on the court – he played less than 21 minutes – the Spurs were +21; without him, -19.
San Antonio won its last title in 2014 and has not set foot in the playoffs since 2019, a long desert journey for a franchise that had reached the finals for 22 consecutive seasons and won five rings.
In addition to Wembanyama, the Spurs have Stephon Castle -current rookie of the year-, recent number two draft pick Dylan Harper, as well as proven players such as De’Aaron Fox, Luke Kornet or Harrison Barnes.
Their road to the finals in the tough West has included eliminating the Lakers in the quarterfinals, as well as disposing of the Thunder in the semifinals.
Brunson, ‘clutch’ of the Knicks
Jalen Brunson tonight
40 points
4 rebounds
8 assists
16-27 FGSHIP TIME
pic.twitter.com/5HXmcDzMzq– Teg🚨 (@IQfor3). December 14, 2025
The Knicks’ drought is even longer than the Spurs’.
They played their last final in 1999 – lost precisely to San Antonio – and their last title dates back to 1973.
However, unlike a Spurs focused on resurgence, the Knicks have been chasing the title for years: in 2024 they were conference semifinalists and in 2025 they reached the East final, being eliminated both times by the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Brunson is the engine of a team that has brought excitement back to Madison Square Garden. He averages 28.8 points per game and is especially effective in the clutch, that is, in tight ends.
In fact, last season he was voted by the league as its best clutch player.
He is surrounded by Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, a very clear starting five that leaves few minutes to the bench.
The Knicks have reached the Las Vegas final after eliminating the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinals and the Orlando Magic in the semifinals. Brunson scored 35 and 40 points, respectively.
With information from EFE
