The Knicks have officially secured their spot in Las Vegas. With a road victory over the Raptors on Tuesday night, New York punched their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals. Led by Jalen Brunson, the team surged ahead by 35 points, leveraging stout defense in the second quarter to establish a comfortable lead they maintained throughout the game.
The Knicks are set to face the Magic for a chance to reach the NBA Cup Finals on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Orlando secured a 117-108 win over the Miami Heat in the first quarterfinal game on Tuesday. While New York has progressed beyond the group stage in each NBA Cup since its inception, this marks their first time reaching the final four in Las Vegas. Previously, they fell to the Bucks two years ago and the Hawks last year.
Their next challenge is the tricky Magic team, who have won once in three matchups this season, with their sole victory coming when Karl Anthony Towns was sidelined last weekend. Towns expressed excitement about the opportunity, saying, “This locker room is awesome. This is a chance to represent our city and team in Las Vegas. The Cup ignites the competitive spirit in all of us in this league. We’re thrilled to compete against the best teams.”
Fan Take: This breakthrough for the Knicks signals a shift in competitive balance, giving fans hope for a deep playoff run and renewed excitement in New York basketball. The NBA Cup’s growing prominence showcases how these high-stakes, mid-season tournaments can add thrilling new layers to the sport.
