New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs
PREVIEW: The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks will battle for the Emirates NBA Cup championship on Tuesday. San Antonio booked their ticket after beating the heavily favored OKC Thunder 111-109, with Victor Wembanyama's return helping end the Thunder's 16-game winning streak. The Knicks arrive riding five straight victories, with Jalen Brunson playing at an elite level and New York losing just once in December. The Knicks are aware that Wembanyama will play under 30 minutes in the final, and they must capitalize on stretches when the 7-foot-5 center sits on the bench.
During their five-game winning run, Brunson has averaged 32.8 points on 55.9 percent shooting, including 45.7 percent from deep. Wembanyama loves playing against New York, averaging 41.0 points in his last two games against them, though he will be limited but dropped 22 points in 21 minutes against the Thunder's top-ranked defense. No ShotQuality data is available for either team heading into this matchup. San Antonio's identity in this game is versatility, with their best path being to keep the Knicks from their preferred tempo, win second-effort possessions, and force contested looks instead of open lanes.