The 2025 NBA Cup Championship tips off Tuesday with the New York Knicks taking on the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks, holding an 18-7 record, earned their spot by beating the Orlando Magic 132-120 in the semifinals, marking their fifth consecutive win. The Spurs, also 18-7, snapped Oklahoma City’s 16-game winning streak with a narrow 111-109 semifinal victory, extending their own three-game winning run. New York will still be without Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder). Players on the winning team stand to earn about $531,000 each, while the runners-up receive around $212,000.
The game kicks off at 8:30 PM ET from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Current betting lines favor the Knicks by 2.5 points with a total over/under set at 231.5, which is up three points from the opening line. Key player totals include Victor Wembanyama at 21.5 points and Jalen Brunson at 29.5 points. For those interested in betting insights, SportsLine’s model, which has a strong track record with NBA picks, has simulated the game 10,000 times. According to their predictions, the over 231.5 points is favored, with over hitting in more than 60% of simulations, largely due to both teams’ potent offenses ranking in the top eight, though their defenses lag outside the top ten. One side of the spread is expected to hit nearly 60% of the time.
Fans can catch the game streamed on Amazon Prime. New users can also take advantage of promos on sports betting platforms like DraftKings and bet365, including bonuses for placing initial bets.
Fan Take: This matchup highlights the rise of exciting young talent and the competitiveness building in the NBA Cup, injecting fresh energy into the sport. The high-scoring prediction signals an entertaining game for fans and marks a growing emphasis on offense in today’s basketball landscape.
