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Emirates NBA Cup 2025

Live Updates: Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals, Knicks vs. Magic, Spurs vs. Thunder

Follow the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals, featuring Knicks-Magic and Spurs-Thunder, underway now on Prime.

Ben Lambert, for NBA.com

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder are facing the San Antonio Spurs on Prime with a chance to play for the Emirates NBA Cup Championship on the line.

Enjoy the best of the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.

What we know about Saturday night’s games:

  • The Knicks defeated the Magic 132-120 behind Jalen Brunson (40 pts, 8 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (29 pts, 8 reb, 2 3PM).
  • Now, it’s Spurs-Thunder (9 ET) on Prime, with Victor Wembanyama returning for San Antonio and a trip to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship on the line.
  • The Thunder are seeking to keep pace with the 2015-16 Warriors for the best record through 26 games in NBA history at 25-1.

9:51 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Shai stays smooth

31-20 Thunder after one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is up to 10 points, although he’s needed 10 shots to do it.

This pull-up is trademark SGA, though. Will he find his customary easy rhythm tonight?

9:38 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Finding Hart on the lob

20-10 Thunder with 4:29 to go in the first quarter, thanks in part to this spectacular alley-oop.

9:15 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

SGA is ready to go

Pressure’s nothing new for Shai. His whole life is consistent.

9:05 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

The Alien returns

It’s been 12 games since we’ve seen Victor Wembanyama.

He’ll have a national audience for tonight’s action, with the chance to play for the Emirates NBA Cup on the line.

8:14 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Knicks headed to Emirates NBA Cup Championship

The Knicks take the win over the Magic, 132-120.

Jalen Brunson dropped 40 points on 27 shots, adding 8 assists, as New York shot 61 percent from the field.

“We did a great job of slowing them down and playing Knicks basketball,” said Karl-Anthony Towns (29 pts, 8 rebounds, 2 3PM). “We work hard. We put the hours in, and we pay attention to the little details.”

Tyler Kolek was a game-high +18 in the win.

Jalen Suggs led the Magic with 26 points, while Paolo Banchero added 25.

8:01 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Knicks maintaining lead

Jalen Brunson’s up to 40 points, adding 8 assists, with 2:30 to go in the fourth quarter. Knicks with a 10-point lead.

Karl-Anthony Towns (27 pts, 8 reb) has exerted his will late.

7:46 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Knicks push lead to 11

Their largest of the game.

But Jalen Suggs immediately responds by a drawing a three-shot foul with a pump fake that surprised OG Anunoby.

7:36 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Knicks up as the fourth gets going

100-92 Knicks with one quarter to go in the first game of our Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals doubleheader.

Jalen Brunson (37 pts on 24 shots) has been unstoppable for New York, answering the Magic’s charge in the third with 12 points and four assists of his own.

His fakes, feints and footwork make it so hard to stay in front of him. Look at all the shots he’s made in and around the key.

Jalen Brunson's shot chart

Jalen Brunson’s shot chart through three quarters.

7:19 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Magic surge back to take the lead

87-85 Magic with 5:23 to go in the third quarter after a quick 9-2 run. Get to Prime to catch the action!

In the words of Stan Van Gundy, “this is a great NBA basketball game.”

6:48 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

A high-scoring battle on Prime

Knicks up 71-64 after shooting 63 percent in the first half.

Jalen Brunson’s dropped 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting — but Jalen Suggs has matched him with 25 points of his own on 10-of-15 shooting.

Brunson and Suggs duel in the first half of The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 semifinals.

Karl-Anthony Towns (12 pts, 4 reb) leads all players at +12.

6:38 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Guards getting buckets

Jalen Brunson has 21 points so far, while Jalen Suggs has 17, as the point guards turn their focus to scoring in Las Vegas.

“We’ve got a mano y mano duel going here,” said Stan Van Gundy.

6:34 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Knicks seize control in early second

New York started the second quarter with a 7-0 run on the way to a 53-46 lead with 5:16 to go in the half.

Coach Mike Brown has inserted Tyler Kolek with Brunson and paired Karl-Anthony Towns with Mitchell Robinson, adding playmaking and size in an effort to counteract the Magic’s physical defense.

6:09 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Magic up three after one

36-33 Orlando after a hard-fought first quarter that included five lead changes. Jalen Brunson (11 pts) led the way for the Knicks, dueling with Paolo Banchero as the period wound down.

Brunson and Banchero trade buckets in the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Semifinals.

Jalen Suggs (10 pts, 3 ast) was the man for the Magic.

5:52 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

An even start on Prime

10-9 Knicks with 8:36 to go in the first. Josh Hart demurred when asked if these teams are becoming rivals during the pregame show.

The intensity’s been evident so far, though.

5:30 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Dylan Harper keeps attacking

Dylan Harper's best drives this season.

The Spurs’ young guard could be a significant x-factor tonight as they take on the Thunder.

He’s third among rookies in points off drives per game at 6.3 while posting a higher assist percentage and fewer turnovers on the action than anyone in the Top 5, surpassing Cooper Flagg, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel and VJ Edgecombe.

Check out his slashing skills in the video above. Harper is smooth and polished in the lane, comfortable finishing with either hand, with a veteran’s sense of pace and angle.

He’s No. 7 in the latest Kia Rookie Ladder, but could be on the rise.

5:15 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025

Welcome to the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals!

It’s win-or-go-home basketball on Prime as we determine who will play for the Emirates NBA Cup!

NBA.com’s Shaun Powell has in-depth previews of Knicks-Magic (5:30 ET) and Thunder-Spurs (9 ET) for your consideration, as we gear up for a special night of hoops.

The Knicks and Magic have faced off three times already this season, with the Magic taking two and the Knicks taking the latest 106-100 just under a week ago on Dec. 7.

“It’s a little tough just because I don’t think (either) team has been completely healthy when we played each other,” Coach Mike Brown said this week. “I don’t necessarily feel like it’s on the rivalry level yet. But it can be in due time.”

Victor Wembanyama (26.2 ppg, 12.9 reb, 4.0 ast, 3.6 blk on 50.2 FG%) is expected to be back tonight for San Antonio, who are looking to halt the Thunder’s 16-game winning streak, which has run them out to an NBA record-tying 24-1 record.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.6 ppg, 4.6 reb, 6.5 ast, 1.5 stl, 56.2 FG%) has scored 20+ points in 96 consecutive games — second only to Wilt Chamberlain (126 games) all-time. He stands at No. 2 in the latest Kia MVP Ladder.

The Thunder won the title last year, but fell in the Emirates NBA Cup 2024 Championship to the Milwaukee Bucks. Can they take the crown this time around?

“We go out there with a hunter’s mentality,” said Gilgeous-Alexander on OKC’s Cup chase mindset this year. “Trying to be a better version of ourselves every time.”

Get hyped. Feel the spirit. Listen to the ball bounce off the hardwood.

There are few nights like tonight in the NBA season.

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