NEW YORK, N.Y. — The New York Knicks will have a chance to become the first team to take home hardware during the 2025–26 season, as a win Tuesday night against the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas would clinch the franchise’s first-ever NBA Cup.
The in-season tournament, which debuted in 2023, may not carry the same prestige as winning the Finals, but the Knicks will still have plenty to play for, as each member of the winning team would receive [more than $300,000 in bonuses.](https://www.silive.com/knicks/2025/12/as-knicks-reach-nba-cup-final-tyler-kolek-and-other-players-could-make-serious-cash-in-vegas.html)
With both a banner and a handsome cash reward on the line, the Knicks won’t be taking this game lightly. So, what are three keys to the game fans should watch for ahead of the clash with San Antonio?
**1\. Will Jalen Brunson have his signature Knicks moment?**
There’s no doubt Jalen Brunson is one of the best things to happen to the franchise in recent memory. Can the point guard deliver a performance that brings a trophy back to New York for the first time since 1973 and adds a major accolade to his tenure as a Knick?
Brunson is unsurprisingly leading the team in scoring at a whopping 28.8 points per game this season, and another monster performance from the Villanova alum would only further cement his status as a fan favorite.
No. 11 will need to be crafty, as the Spurs are defensively stout, allowing the seventh-fewest total points in the league at the moment. Additionally, San Antonio has shown an ability to guard Brunson in the past, as his 19.9 career points per game against the Spurs sits well below his scorching average this season.
It may be a challenge, but fortunately for the Knicks’ faithful, Brunson has been in some of the best form of his life leading up to the NBA Cup championship game, as he poured in 40 points and added eight assists in a scintillating semifinal performance against the Magic.
Brunson has delivered several clutch moments during his stint in New York, but if he can replicate the level of basketball he’s displayed for most of this season, he could fully establish himself alongside Knicks legends like Willis Reed and Walt Frazier as players who have brought a title back to the Garden.
**2\. Can the defense slow down Victor Wembanyama?**
If Brunson is the clear talisman for the Knicks this season, superstar Victor Wembanyama has been the same for San Antonio, playing at an MVP-caliber level this campaign.
The 7′4″ giant has been a scoring and rebounding machine for San Antonio, as his 25.8 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game place him among just a handful of players currently averaging a double-double.
Wemby’s versatility was on full display during the Spurs’ massive Cup semifinals win against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA Champions and the best team in basketball this season, as he dropped 22 points and nine rebounds to stun the basketball world in a thrilling 111–109 victory.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)(AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Guarding a player of the Frenchman’s stature and talent will be no small task, but fortunately for the Knicks, they have a dynamic big man of their own: Karl-Anthony Towns.
Like Wembanyama, Towns has been a scoring and rebounding force this season, currently averaging 22.4 points and 11.9 boards per game—numbers that make him one of the most well-rounded post players in the league.
The Wemby-KAT matchup could very well determine the outcome of the game, and watching two of the best big men in basketball face off should be nothing short of electric.
**3\. Live and die by the 3?**
For years, it’s been no secret that success in the NBA requires strong three-point shooting, and the Knicks have a great chance of taking home the Cup if they can continue to knock down shots from beyond the arc.
This season, the Knicks have ranked in the top five in team three-point percentage (37.8%), demonstrating a strong aptitude for knocking down the trey.
In fact, New York currently has four players — Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges — who are shooting 40% or better from three, making them one of the deepest three-point shooting teams in the league.
As mentioned earlier, the Spurs are overall a strong defensive squad, but if there’s one Achilles’ heel the Knicks should certainly look to exploit, it’s their perimeter defense; San Antonio currently ranks in the bottom six of NBA teams for opponent three-point percentage allowed (37.6%).
While Wembanyama may dominate the paint with an impressive 3.5 blocks per game this season, if the Knicks can find their outside shooters, they’ll have a real shot at the Cup.
Sure, the ultimate goal for this Knicks crew is still to win the Finals, but a victory on Tuesday could give this core real confidence that if they can capture one trophy, they can go after the biggest one of all come June.