Game Thread Spurs (18-7) vs Knicks (18-7) (Tue 12/16/25) [7:30PM CDT]

[tearsofmorningdew]

Is there NBA cup championship merch? Never looked into it obviously

 

[100%Duncan]

if I was saying this was gravy after the OKC win, I’d be semi-lying

 

[Quentin_Compson]

The Knicks have been one of the best offenses this season. It will be interesting to see the "Wemby effect" against them.

 

[LeBowen]

My biggest worry are Kornet-KAT minutes.
Kornet will be brought out to the perimeter and as good as he's been, it's going to cause us a lot of trouble and it's not like we can cross-match.
Brunson will obviously do his thing, but we're arguably the best equipped team to deal with heliocentric guards.
Knicks lack creation other than him, Bridges and KAT can put the ball in the basket, but they're not creators.

McBride and Shamet are out, their 6th and 7th man.
It's going to be Clarkson, Kolek, Yabusele and Robinson off the bench. I might be biased, but that's a huge advantage for us.

If Wemby can play 25 minutes, they can beat us only if our shooting is horrible and their starts go off.
Another worry is our corner 3 defense and Knicks love those.
We'll need Devin/Champ/Barnes to hit their shots and Castle/Fox/Harper to give Brunson hell and put him in every action.
Even if Brunson matches with Devin, I'd give the ball to Devin to keep attacking him. He's that bad on defense.

 

[brazil]

This game is for me more important than it seems. A win would do wonder in terms of confidence, winning something already as a team would establish as a clear tier 2 contender entering into the POs. This game could make the difference between a first or second round exit and a semi final


or maybe I'm reading too much into it tbh...

 

[Quentin_Compson]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/12/1...rk-knicks-san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama

Solid preview.

 

[OK Computer]

The fact that this doesn’t count towards the W-L record makes me so uninterested.

 

[CGD]

The Knicks have been one of the best offenses this season. It will be interesting to see the "Wemby effect" against them.

As long as they let them play like they did against OKC. Brunson, incredibly, is an even worse foul merchant than SGA.

 

[Amuseddaysleeper]

This game is for me more important than it seems. A win would do wonder in terms of confidence, winning something already as a team would establish as a clear tier 2 contender entering into the POs. This game could make the difference between a first or second round exit and a semi final


or maybe I'm reading too much into it tbh...

You’re absolutely right, this feels like a huge playoff game. It’s pretty clear how badly all the players want it, the hunger the Spurs have shown is infectious.

 

[ffadicted]

The fact that this doesn’t count towards the W-L record makes me so uninterested.

Ya but you can tell it means a ton to our young squad. The confidence boost on its own for them is worth more to me than an extra game on the win column. Plus it's nice that I thiiiink it adds to Wemby's total game played record based on previous comments on Haliburton's eligibility for 65 games, so there's still some hope our boy is eligible for awards.

 

[Dex]

I'll be the first to admit I'm one of those people that said that the NBA Cup was silly nonsense and doesn't matter...

...unless you are in it and then it is THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!!

 

[Manu20]

I'll be the first to admit I'm one of those people that said that the NBA Cup was silly nonsense and doesn't matter...

...unless you are in it and then it is THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!!

It feels damn good to watch a Spurs game that at least has a playoff feeling!

Wonder if tonight will be a Spurs crowd again or more of a Knick crowd. I would think it would assume on which team is winning lol the crowd will be flip flopping.

 

[TowelWaver]

It feels damn good to watch a Spurs game that at least has a playoff feeling!

Wonder if tonight will be a Spurs crowd again or more of a Knick crowd. I would think it would assume on which team is winning lol the crowd will be flip flopping.

At least we know they will be flying in the Jackals to provide some home-crowd feel. That'll help a lot.

 

[heyheymymy]

Really like the idea to pay for Jakals section crowd to be flown into Vegas for the game. There was already a bit of a pro spurs crowd in the first game and the Jakals will dial that up even more.

 

[Fireball]

Spurs just need to lead after 3 quarters. Knicks always lose then ... but they always win when leading going into the 4th.

 

[Sugus]

Elimination Game Intensity is a priceless learning opportunity. The Spurs, health permitting, appear to be clearly playoff bound - getting this experience now matters much more than a tick in their W-L record.

Stupid NBA puts this dramatic final Cup game on a working Tuesday night though, fuck you very much; so hoping to sleep through a win tonight, but the experience will be great regardless of the outcome.

 

[Dex]

Really like the idea to pay for Jakals section crowd to be flown into Vegas for the game. There was already a bit of a pro spurs crowd in the first game and the Jakals will dial that up even more.

I think the last game people were rooting for the Thunder to lose as much as they were the Spurs to win. Every other fanbase is tired of the Thunder.

Given the vast Knicks fanbase out there, I don't think that will be the case for this game.

 

[spursistan]

Really want to win it all after such an epic run through the Rockets, Nuggets, Lakers, OKC gauntlet.

Not to mention, it is unique opportunity to check the NBA Cup title box and get it out of the way so we don't even have to minimally stress about losing its games in the future as we focus more on winning the actual Championship.

 

[sfernald]

Don’t ever forget! If they win this game he’ll finally be able to afford the llama!!

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

I’m sure it’s been said, but the runner-up of the first two cups did better than the winner. Lakers win, and Indiana makes it to the finals last year. Bucks win, OKC is in that same finals and takes the championship. Now everybody’s calling them the best ever—yet the “best ever” lost to Giannis and Doc Rivers.

 

[spurs2112]

This game is for me more important than it seems. A win would do wonder in terms of confidence, winning something already as a team would establish as a clear tier 2 contender entering into the POs. This game could make the difference between a first or second round exit and a semi final


or maybe I'm reading too much into it tbh...

Agree 100%. This would be a huge confidence boost to a young team that has been below 500 for the past 6 seasons. They're playing good basketball, not perfect but who does, and when Victor fully gets integrated back this team is scary. I honestly feel the only thing that could stop them is injuries and lack of experience come playoff time.

 

[Spur|n|Austin]

Knicks being favoured makes sense being we've played one game full strength. I think it will be a dogfight and hope the Knicks think they got this licked. Maybe they should go out drinking and gambling tonight!?

That's the Cowboys CeeDee and Pickins before the Raiders game

 

[mudyez]

OG will be on Wemby?

Need two early fouls on that man. Dude is the x-factor for the Knicks.

True...or Bridges...not sure. I feel like we will be ok with Brunson and KAT but I think if one of those roleplayers explodes we will be in trouble.

 

[LeBowen]

If OG is on Wemby, Keldon attacking KAT might be the answer, KAT always commits dumb fouls.

 

[SpurSpike]

Knicks being favoured makes sense being we've played one game full strength. I think it will be a dogfight and hope the Knicks think they got this licked. Maybe they should go out drinking and gambling tonight!?

Brunson was seen at 4am out on the town the night before the last cup game and he still dropped 40 on the Magic...