With just four teams left in contention for the NBA Cup, we’re inching closer to the big game. Two teams from each conference will square up on Saturday, Dec. 12, for a chance to take the big prize in Las Vegas.
But who’s going to play, and when is the NBA Cup championship game about to take place? We’ll let you know here.
Will Victor Wembanyama’s Return Be Enough for the Spurs to Challenge for an NBA Cup Final Berth?
Per the league’s official website, the NBA Cup championship game will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 pm (ET).
Currently, only four teams remain in the race. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will square off in the Western Conference, while the New York Knicks and Orlando Magic will do the same in the Eastern Conference.
The Thunder have been the most dominant team in the NBA this season by a significant margin. Mark Daigneault’s team has the best net rating in the game (17.2), and they haven’t even needed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to play in most fourth quarters.
I still don’t get how people watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in full flow and still call him a free throw merchant. pic.twitter.com/8W8V1eoYQr
— Mufasa (@mo_konnect) December 11, 2025
They just punched their ticket to the semifinal after taking down the Phoenix Suns by 49 points. And while the Suns didn’t have Devin Booker, it was still a masterful display of utter dominance on both ends of the floor.
The San Antonio Spurs, on the other hand, have gone 8-3 without superstar big man Victor Wembanyama. The former No. 1 pick is expected to return for the semifinal game vs. the Thunder in another edition of his rivalry with Chet Holmgren.
Mitch Johnson’s team will be back to full strength, and with their young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper taking pressure off De’Aaron Fox, this team is one of the few that might actually stand a chance and could match up with the defending NBA champions.
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The New York Knicks reached this stage after taking down the Toronto Raptors behind Jalen Brunson’s 35-point performance. Mike Brown’s team has one of the most electrifying offenses in the game right now.
The Knicks need more consistent play from Karl-Anthony Towns, especially down the stretch, and he will be in for a tough matchup against the Orlando Magic’s bruising frontcourt.
Last but not least, the Orlando Magic are proving they can be a contender in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner haven’t played together often because of injuries.
With Wagner out now, it’ll be up to the former No. 1 pick and new sidekick Desmond Bane to lead the Magic to the championship game. And while they may not have the Knicks’ scoring prowess, they have a tough defense.
