New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs ring out 2025 with NBA Cup final rematch

SAN ANTONIO – The New York Knicks can build on a three-game winning streak in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and produce a repeat of the 2025 NBA Cup final, as they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Dec 31 (Jan 1 morning, Singapore time) in a clash between two of the league’s best teams.

The Knicks and Spurs squared off in the final of the NBA’s in-season tournament on Dec 16 in Las Vegas, with

the Knicks winning 124-113 in a contest that did not count towards the regular-season standings

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Since then, both teams have each won five of their seven games – but with the big difference coming in the most recent stretch. With both holding 23-9 marks, New York head to Texas after a gritty 130-125 win on Dec 29 in New Orleans.

Jalen Brunson (28 points, 10 assists), OG Anunoby (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points, 12 rebounds) each had double-doubles for the visiting Knicks. Mohamed Diawara scored a career-high 18 points and Miles McBride, playing in his first game since Dec 7 because of a left ankle sprain, added 14 points off the bench.

“We find a way to win,” Brunson said. “We have a growing confidence as a team, not necessarily just in fourth quarters. We understand how we started (on Dec 29) was unacceptable, and we got to figure out how to win a game from where we were. So we got a lot of confidence in each other.

“But we got to start better. And we got to play better, honestly, throughout the whole game.”

The Knicks have captured 15 of their past 18 games, including the NBA Cup final.

Meanwhile, San Antonio have dropped two straight games, with the most recent loss being a 113-101 setback at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec 29. The Spurs led by two points heading to the fourth quarter but came unravelled, allowing Cleveland to surge in front and take over the game.

“It felt like an unnecessary feeling of desperation at times,” said Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. “And there are probably a few different sources of that – some of it is motivation, some is trying to make a play, some are trying to be aggressive, some of it is trying to extend a lead or cut a lead where you can’t get six-point plays.”

The late collapse mirrored the Spurs’ 127-114 home loss to the Utah Jazz on Dec 27, when they rallied to tie the game early in the fourth quarter before falling apart down the stretch.

San Antonio had won eight consecutive games, excluding the NBA Cup final, before losing twice in three days.

“Never get too high when we win, never get too low when we lose,” Spurs star man Victor Wembanyama said.

“It’s a transition in our season for us because we just came off a very tough stretch of which we came out pretty successful. Very demanding games, mentally demanding scouting reports and opponents, and we have to be able to settle down after that.”

Meanwhile in NBA action on Dec 30, rookie V.J. Edgecombe knocked down a three-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in overtime, lifting the Philadelphia 76ers to a 139-136 win at the Memphis Grizzlies.

Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 34 points apiece and Edgecombe finished with 25.

The Boston Celtics – led by Derrick White’s 27 points, seven blocks, seven rebounds and six assists – triumphed 129-119 in Utah despite 37 points from Keyonte George for the Jazz.

Over in Los Angeles, the Eastern Conference leaders Detroit Pistons ended a two-game losing streak as they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 128-106.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 27 points, while Luka Doncic had 30 points for the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Sacramento Kings 131-90, thanks to a game-high 33 points from Kawhi Leonard. REUTERS, AFP