The Knicks’ upcoming week opens with Tuesday night’s Emirates NBA Cup Final in Las Vegas. It’s a shot at a shiny new trophy, history, and bragging rights. What follows may prove even more challenging,
however. After the celebration (or disappointment) comes a quick turnaround, with a road trip to Indiana and a Friday night return to MSG. Fatigue could come into play when our heroes face a pesky conference foe on the second night of a back-to-back. Also feeling fatigue: Amazon, from counting all that NBA money!
Here’s the upcoming slate.
Tuesday, Dec. 16: Knicks vs. Spurs in the NBA Cup Final
The New York Knicks head back to T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night for the Emirates NBA Cup Championship Game, riding momentum from a 132–120 semifinal win over Orlando that featured a scalding 40-point outing from Jalen Brunson.
Standing in their way are Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, whose unexpected run through the bracket included upsets of the Lakers and Thunder. Beyond Wemby, they’ve benefited from a potent backcourt punch of De’Aaron Fox and the emerging Stephon Castle. Although the result won’t affect the regular-season standings (it’s a bonus, 83rd game), there’s a trophy, significant prize money, maybe a banner, and definitely some bragging rights. If forced to pick between them, the NBA Cup or NBA Finals, it’s no Sophie’s Choice, it’s the Finals. But both would be nice, no?
As Josh Hart told the NY Post this week, “Obviously, it’s a Cup, it’s a title. It’s something you want to win. So–yeah, hang a banner. Obviously, there are different standards for those with Cups and Finals. But whenever you want to go out there, you want to win and compete for a title, that’s what you want to do. And you want to celebrate that.”
Hang a banner, indeed. Watch the game on Amazon Prime Video at 8:30 pm EST.
Thursday, Dec. 18: Knicks at Pacers
Shortly after wrapping up the Cup Finals, our heroes climb back aboard the jet, destined for Indiana to face the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
This reunites two teams in very different places than they were during last spring’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks enter as one of the East’s top contenders (and, we hope, NBA Cup winners); the Hoosiers are struggling to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. Derailed by injuries and departures, the Pacers sit at 6–18 and rank near the bottom of the league offensively. Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin are providing consistent scoring, at least, and Andrew Nembhard has taken on an expanded role at point guard. Expect Rick Carlisle’s club to play with pride, but the talent gap is substantial. The Knicks should win it with little expenditure of perspiration.
Watch it on MSG, 7 pm EST.
Friday, Dec 19: Knicks vs. Sixers
No rest for the wicked. The Knicks close out the work week with a back-to-back. At least they’ll be home, where they’re nearly undefeated, but the opponent will be the Philadelphia 76ers, playing better than we expected.
Philly comes in at 13–10 and sixth in the East, still looking for consistency after an uneven start. Joel Embiid showed signs of rounding into form with a 39-point outing against Indiana, while Paul George has flashed some signs of not being completely washed. And MVP candidate (seriously) Tyrese Maxey has averaged 31.5 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 23 games this season to keep Nick Nurse’s squad competitive. This promises to be a tough test for the Knicks, and fatigue from all that travel (and late-night clubbing in Vegas) might catch up to them on this SEGABABA.
Watch it on Amazon Prime Video (again?!), 7 pm EST.
Go Knicks.
