Buckle up, basketball fans – tonight's Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals are heating up with high-stakes drama that could redefine rivalries and shatter records! Who will clinch a spot in the championship and etch their names into NBA lore? Dive into this live blog for every thrilling moment, standout plays, expert insights, and buzzworthy updates. But here's where it gets controversial: Are these emerging rivalries just hype, or the birth of epic feuds that will captivate fans for years? Stick around to find out more as we break down the action in real-time.
The New York Knicks are clashing with the Orlando Magic on Prime Video in a fierce battle to advance to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.
Catch the pinnacle of the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals through NBA.com's live blog, packed with all the crucial moments, standout performances, keen observations, breaking news, insider notes, and highlight reels.
- Comprehensive Coverage: Knicks-Magic (https://www.nba.com/#stories/08d19364-4e4e-8b89-2c9c-3a1e28752288)
- Yesterday's live blog: Memorable highlights from a packed 7-game evening (https://www.nba.com/news/live-updates-hawks-pistons-timberwolves-warriors-and-action-from-a-7-night-game-in-the-nba)
- Grab the NBA App now (https://link.nba.com/NBAapp_)
What we've gathered about Saturday night's matchups:
- The path to the NBA Cup Championship hangs in the balance! Tune into Knicks-Magic at 5:30 ET (https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-orl-0022501229) and Spurs-Thunder at 9 ET (https://www.nba.com/game/sas-vs-okc-0022501230) on Prime Video.
- The Thunder are aiming to match the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors' historic 25-1 start after 26 games – a record that still stands as one of the NBA's most dominant openings ever.
- Victor Wembanyama is set to return for San Antonio, while Franz Wagner will sit out for Orlando due to injury.
7:46 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Knicks extend their advantage to 11
That's their biggest lead so far in this matchup.
But Jalen Suggs quickly counters with a clever pump fake that catches OG Anunoby off guard, earning him a three-shot foul.
7:36 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Knicks in the lead as the fourth quarter begins
JALEN BRUNSON WITH A MONSTER MOVE 🤯
HE'S ALREADY AT 37 POINTS THROUGH THREE QUARTERS.
NYK CAPS OFF THE QUARTER WITH A POWERFUL 15-3 RUN.
Click to view: https://t.co/pHyeRvnT7m pic.twitter.com/xhXmCmmzXT (https://t.co/xhXmCmmzXT)
— NBA (@NBA) December 14, 2025 (https://twitter.com/NBA/status/2000002299759075450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
The Knicks hold a 100-92 edge with one quarter remaining in our Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals doubleheader opener.
Jalen Brunson, with 37 points on 24 attempts, has been absolutely unstoppable for New York, powering through Orlando's push in the third quarter with 12 points and four assists.
His deceptive fakes, intricate footwork, and precise moves make defending him a nightmare – just look at how many baskets he's sunk near the basket and in close range. For beginners, this highlights why skilled guards like Brunson are game-changers: they manipulate defenders with body positioning and quick changes of direction.
Jalen Brunson’s shooting chart after three quarters.
7:19 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Magic rally to regain the lead
Orlando surges ahead 87-85 with 5:23 left in the third after a rapid 9-2 burst. Head to Prime Video to witness the intensity!
As Stan Van Gundy put it, “this is a great NBA basketball game.”
6:48 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
A fast-paced scoring showdown on Prime
Knicks lead 71-64 after a scorching 63% shooting first half.
Jalen Brunson has racked up 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting, but Jalen Suggs has kept pace with 25 of his own on 10-of-15 attempts.
The point guards are putting on a clinic in the first half of The Emirates NBA Cup 2025 semifinals.
Karl-Anthony Towns, with 12 points and 4 rebounds, tops the plus-minus at +12 – meaning New York has outscored Orlando by 12 when he's on the court, a stat that shows his impact on both ends.
6:38 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Point guards dominating the scoreboard
Jalen Brunson is up to 21 points already, while Jalen Suggs has 17, with both guards focusing on their scoring prowess in Las Vegas.
the float game from cap 💪
15 PTS | 4 AST pic.twitter.com/0IRVfRJPRw (https://t.co/0IRVfRJPRw)
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 13, 2025 (https://twitter.com/nyknicks/status/1999986863348613359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
“We’ve got a mano y mano duel going here,” remarked Stan Van Gundy.
6:34 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Knicks take charge early in the second
New York kicks off the second quarter with a blistering 7-0 run, building a 53-46 lead with 5:16 remaining in the half.
Coach Mike Brown has brought in Tyler Kolek alongside Brunson and paired Karl-Anthony Towns with Mitchell Robinson, injecting more playmaking and height to counter Orlando's aggressive defense.
Hart score.
Kolek steal.
Kolek dime.
Bridges score.
CHAOTIC SEQUENCE FROM NEW YORK!
🏆 Winner advances to face SAS/OKC in @emirates (https://twitter.com/emirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) NBA Cup Championship in Vegas pic.twitter.com/IsjLSV88QQ (https://t.co/IsjLSV88QQ)
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2025 (https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1999983376527249629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
6:09 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Magic ahead by three after the first
Orlando leads 36-33 following a grueling first quarter with five lead changes. Jalen Brunson (11 points) paced the Knicks, trading baskets with Paolo Banchero toward the end.
Brunson and Banchero exchange scores in the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 Semifinals.
Jalen Suggs (10 points, 3 assists) was Orlando's standout.
Jalen Suggs: COURT VISION ACTIVATED!
10 pts & 3 ast early for Orlando's guard 👏
Tap to view on Prime: https://t.co/pHyeRvnT7m pic.twitter.com/AwiGm6Ogmt (https://t.co/AwiGm6Ogmt)
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2025 (https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1999979467356377112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
5:52 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
A tight opening on Prime
Knicks edge out 10-9 with 8:36 left in the first. Josh Hart downplayed rivalry talk in the pregame interview.
The energy has been palpable from the start, though.
INCREDIBLE PASS BY KAT 😮
He spots Mikal Bridges cutting for the finger roll!
Watch it: https://t.co/pHyeRvnT7m pic.twitter.com/LMnukGyyFZ (https://t.co/LMnukGyyFZ)
— NBA (@NBA) December 13, 2025 (https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1999975499423240600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
5:30 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Dylan Harper on the offensive
Dylan Harper's top drives of the season.
The Spurs' rookie guard might prove pivotal tonight against the Thunder.
He's ranking third among rookies in points from drives at 6.3 per game, boasting a better assist rate and lower turnover count than the top five prospects like Cooper Flagg, Jeremiah Fears, Kon Knueppel, and VJ Edgecombe. This stat measures efficiency in creating and finishing at the rim, crucial for young players learning to navigate defenses.
Watch his fluid drives in the clip above – Harper moves with smoothness in the paint, finishing effortlessly with either hand, showing the poise of a seasoned pro.
He's currently No. 7 on the latest Kia Rookie Ladder (https://www.nba.com/news/kia-rookie-ladder-dec-10-2025), but he could climb higher soon.
5:15 PM / DECEMBER 13, 2025
Greetings to the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals!
It's do-or-die action on Prime Video as we crown the semifinal winners who'll vie for the Emirates NBA Cup!
NBA.com's Shaun Powell offers detailed previews of Knicks-Magic (https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-magic-nba-cup-semifinals-preview?cid=NBA:Article:OwnedSocial:X:TwitterFeed:AppDownload:AppAcquisition:AppInstalls:t-cont:social:social:appdownload:Article&koclickid=konn8mvbodlzqc511si) at 5:30 ET (https://www.nba.com/game/nyk-vs-orl-0022501229) and Thunder-Spurs (https://www.nba.com/news/thunder-spurs-nba-cup-semifinals-preview?cid=NBA:Article:OwnedSocial:X:TwitterFeed:AppDownload:AppAcquisition:AppInstalls:t-cont:social:social:appdownload:Article&koclickid=ko15e0bn7aa56pmmj1v) at 9 ET (https://www.nba.com/game/sas-vs-okc-0022501230), setting the stage for an incredible evening of basketball.
The Knicks and Magic have met three times this season, with Orlando winning the first two and New York taking the most recent 106-100 (https://www.nba.com/game/orl-vs-nyk-0022500357) on December 7.
“It’s a bit challenging since neither squad has been fully healthy in those games,” Coach Mike Brown noted recently. “I wouldn’t say it’s a full-blown rivalry just yet, but it has the potential to develop.” And this is the part most people miss: How injuries can stifle emerging storylines – could a healthier matchup spark the feud everyone talks about?
Victor Wembanyama (averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 blocks on 50.2% shooting) is expected back for San Antonio, who aim to end the Thunder's 16-game win streak and their record-equaling 24-1 start.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals on 56.2% shooting) has hit 20+ points in 96 straight games, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's 126 all-time. He's also No. 2 on the latest Kia MVP Ladder (https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-dec-12-2025).
The Thunder claimed the trophy last year but lost in the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Championship to the Milwaukee Bucks. Can they reclaim it this time?
“We approach it with a predator’s focus,” Gilgeous-Alexander said about OKC's pursuit. “Always striving to improve.”
Get excited. Soak in the vibe. Hear that ball echoing on the court.
Nights like this are rare in the NBA calendar. And here's where it gets controversial: Is the Thunder's relentless pace sustainable, or will it lead to a burnout that costs them the Cup? What do you think – will this year mark a dynasty, or just a flash in the pan? Share your opinions in the comments and let's debate!
