Today's top games to watch, best bets, odds: Knicks vs. Spurs in NBA Cup final, Salute to Veterans Bowl, more
The lights in Las Vegas are brighter than usual tonight as the NBA Cup reaches its dramatic conclusion at T-Mobile Arena. In a headline clash that features a fascinating contrast of styles and timelines, the New York Knicks face off against the San Antonio Spurs with the first major silverware of the 2025 season on the line. While the broader sports calendar is active with early college football bowl games, the professional basketball world is singularly focused on this high-stakes showdown in the desert.
New York enters the contest as 2.5-point favorites, a line that reflects their veteran poise and dominant recent form. The Knicks have been powered by the relentless brilliance of Jalen Brunson, who has been on a scorching scoring run throughout the tournament. Brunson dropped 40 points in the semifinals against the Orlando Magic, dissecting defenses with a surgical precision that has become his trademark. For a Knicks franchise starved for championships, this in-season tournament represents a tangible, necessary step toward their ultimate goal of an NBA title.
Standing in their way is a San Antonio Spurs squad that has arrived on the big stage well ahead of schedule. Under the guidance of coach Mitch Johnson, the Spurs pulled off the upset of the tournament by knocking out the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals, snapping OKC’s massive 16-game winning streak. The narrative, inevitably, centers on Victor Wembanyama. The French phenomenon returned from a calf injury to post 22 points and nine rebounds in the semis. Although reports suggest he may remain on a minutes restriction tonight, his defensive gravity changes the entire calculus for New York’s interior scorers.
The betting markets have set the total at 231.5 points, anticipating an offensive showcase despite the defensive pedigree of both rosters. The key battle will be tempo: the Knicks’ deliberate, Brunson-led half-court execution versus the Spurs’ youthful length and transition offense. With substantial prize money and the NBA Cup trophy at stake, expect playoff-level intensity from the opening tip. Tonight, Las Vegas hosts a glimpse into the league’s future, but the Knicks are determined to prove that the present still belongs to them.
New York enters the contest as 2.5-point favorites, a line that reflects their veteran poise and dominant recent form. The Knicks have been powered by the relentless brilliance of Jalen Brunson, who has been on a scorching scoring run throughout the tournament. Brunson dropped 40 points in the semifinals against the Orlando Magic, dissecting defenses with a surgical precision that has become his trademark. For a Knicks franchise starved for championships, this in-season tournament represents a tangible, necessary step toward their ultimate goal of an NBA title.
Standing in their way is a San Antonio Spurs squad that has arrived on the big stage well ahead of schedule. Under the guidance of coach Mitch Johnson, the Spurs pulled off the upset of the tournament by knocking out the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals, snapping OKC’s massive 16-game winning streak. The narrative, inevitably, centers on Victor Wembanyama. The French phenomenon returned from a calf injury to post 22 points and nine rebounds in the semis. Although reports suggest he may remain on a minutes restriction tonight, his defensive gravity changes the entire calculus for New York’s interior scorers.
The betting markets have set the total at 231.5 points, anticipating an offensive showcase despite the defensive pedigree of both rosters. The key battle will be tempo: the Knicks’ deliberate, Brunson-led half-court execution versus the Spurs’ youthful length and transition offense. With substantial prize money and the NBA Cup trophy at stake, expect playoff-level intensity from the opening tip. Tonight, Las Vegas hosts a glimpse into the league’s future, but the Knicks are determined to prove that the present still belongs to them.
