Karl-Anthony Towns says that he and the New York Knicks are using the NBA Cup final as motivation to win a title.

The San Antonio Spurs (18-7) will play the New York Knicks (18-7) for the Emirates NBA Cup championship in Las Vegas.

Teams set for Tuesday night showdown after competitive semifinal round for NBA Cup championship at T-Mobile Arena.

The 2025-26 NBA season, still in its early stages, has seen a captivating mid-season twist with the ongoing Emirates NBA Cup tournament. As the league navigates the opening of the trade season, the spotlight has been firmly on the two teams who have defied expectations and injuries to reach the final: the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.

By how the NBA defines pace, which is a bit of a flawed stat, the Knicks aren’t playing that much faster. They’re still bottom-five in that category. Their secondary assists and passes per game aren’t much improved, if at all.

The Magic and Knicks square off first in a game that could provide fans a preview of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks and Magic are among the best teams in the East this season, with New York coming into the game on a four-game winning streak.

If the Milwaukee Bucks end up in a situation where they have to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, a new suitor from the Western Conference has emerged as a potential landing spot.

The Knicks are looking at guards as the NBA December 15 contract date unofficially opens trade season in the league.