In Las Vegas, under the bright lights and big stage built for the NBA's in-season experiment, the Emirates NBA Cup comes down to two of the league's most watched storylines: Victor Wembanyama's rising Spurs and Jalen Brunson's surging Knicks.

Tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET, live on Prime, the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks meet in the Emirates NBA Cup championship game, the final step of a month-long push that has turned early-season dates into win-or-go-home battles. The winner walks away with a new kind of trophy, growing bragging rights and a serious payday: players on the winning team will earn roughly $530,933 each.

NBA Cup Final: Spurs vs Knicks in Las Vegas

The title game will be played in Las Vegas, with the NBA Cup finals staged as the climax of the league's in-season tournament at T-Mobile Arena. The event is set up to feel like a mini playoff week in the desert: neutral floor, national spotlight and a single night to decide a champion.

This is the third edition of what is now branded the Emirates NBA Cup, and the league has clearly leaned in. The knockout rounds and semifinals were already held in Las Vegas, turning the strip into a midseason basketball hub as the winners of those semifinals advanced to tonight's final.

On one side: San Antonio, a young team building around 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama. On the other: New York, a blue-collar Eastern Conference contender built around the craft and toughness of point guard Jalen Brunson.

“This doesn't feel like a random midseason game, it feels like a preview of who's ready for real playoff pressure.”

How the Spurs fought their way to the NBA Cup final

The Spurs’ path to Las Vegas started in Western Conference Group C, where they finished on top to book a spot in the knockout rounds. But their real statement came when the games turned into straight elimination.

In the quarterfinals, San Antonio ran past the Los Angeles Lakers 132–119. Beating the Lakers in a high-scoring showcase instantly raised the stakes. It was the kind of result that made the rest of the field, and fans at home, sit up and pay closer attention to the tournament.

The semifinal then delivered an even bigger moment. The Spurs drew the Oklahoma City Thunder, who came in riding a 16-game win streak. Instead of stepping back, San Antonio ended that run to punch its ticket to the championship game. Stopping a team on a 16-game streak is no small thing at any point in the season; doing it on a neutral floor, with a one-and-done format, added weight to the win.

Crucially, the Spurs got their star back just in time. Victor Wembanyama, returning from a calf injury, played in the semifinal and reminded everyone why he is already a must-watch name across the league. He put up 22 points and nine rebounds against the Thunder, giving San Antonio a long, disruptive presence at both ends of the floor and a steady go-to option when the game slowed down.

For a young Spurs core, these are pressure reps they usually do not see until April or May. Now they get them in December, with money and a trophy on the line.

Knicks enter the NBA Cup championship red-hot

If the Spurs are the story of a young group learning fast, the Knicks come in as a hardened team on a roll. New York has been on a strong run, reported at 9–1 over a recent stretch going into the final. That kind of form is not an accident; it is the sign of a group that has found its identity early.

In Eastern Conference Group C, the Knicks did their job and advanced, then raised their level once elimination games hit. They beat the Toronto Raptors and then the Orlando Magic in the knockout rounds, turning a good run of form into a real push for a title.

Jalen Brunson has been at the center of it all. The guard, who has quickly become the Knicks' heartbeat, delivered a 40-point performance to lift New York into the NBA Cup final. When the stakes climbed, Brunson's scoring and decision-making followed. His ability to control tempo, get to his spots and hit big shots is exactly what the Knicks will lean on again tonight.

“If Brunson outplays Wemby's impact, are we about to talk about him like a top-five guard for good?”

New York's recent form, along with the 40-point showing that sent them to Las Vegas, makes them feel less like a Cinderella and more like a team using the Cup as a launchpad for the rest of the season.

Big money, real motivation: what the NBA Cup means

The Emirates NBA Cup was created to give the early-season schedule more juice. Instead of sleepy nights in November and December, fans now get group stages, tiebreaker talk and single-elimination games that feel like a test run for the playoffs.

It is not just pride on the line. Prize money in this third installment has gone up. In this 2025 edition, each player on the winning team is set to earn about $530,933. That is a bump from the $500,000 per player awarded in the inaugural tournament, a clear signal that the league wants teams to care.

Spurs forward Keldon Johnson left no doubt about how players view the stakes. Asked about the money and motivation, he put it in simple, blunt terms: for $500,000, he said, he would play in a back-to-back-to-back and would "run through a wall." With the payout now even higher, the drive is not going away.

Coaches are also feeling the effects. One veteran voice, Coach Rivers, praised how much attention the Cup is getting, calling the spotlight "amazing." But he also warned that the grind does not end when the confetti falls. According to Rivers, the team that wins the Cup can struggle afterward, as he "found that out last year." The point is simple: pushing hard for this midseason title can have a cost later.

“Love the drama, but I'm curious which matters more in June: this banner or the extra miles on your stars.”

That tension is part of what makes tonight so interesting. The Knicks and Spurs are chasing a new trophy, but they also have an 82-game season and potential postseason runs ahead. How much do you push now for the chance to lift the Cup, knowing the schedule does not slow down for you afterward?

What to watch tonight: stars, styles and stakes

Beyond the storylines, the basketball itself carries plenty to watch when the ball goes up at 8:30 p.m. ET on Prime.

• Victor Wembanyama's impact: Back from his calf injury and fresh off a 22-point, nine-rebound semifinal, Wembanyama will challenge the Knicks at the rim and beyond the arc. His length can change shots, passing lanes and game plans.
• Jalen Brunson's control: Brunson's 40-point night to reach the final showed how dangerous he is when he gets going. Can San Antonio keep him out of the paint and off the free-throw line, or will he carve them up in pick-and-rolls?
• Tempo and toughness: The Spurs have played free and fearless in the Cup, while the Knicks bring a more grinding, physical style. Whichever team can pull the game toward their pace will have a real edge.
• Bench minutes under pressure: With money and a title on the line, coaches may lean heavier on their starters. But one key stretch from a role player could swing the game.

Beyond X's and O's, there is also the emotional side. A win in Las Vegas would give San Antonio's young core an early taste of being champions with Wembanyama leading the way. For the Knicks, lifting the NBA Cup would mark a rare piece of silverware for a franchise hungry for any proof it is back among the league's leaders.

The bigger picture: is the NBA Cup here to stay?

The Emirates NBA Cup is still new, but it is quickly becoming a talking point around the league. The NBA has backed it with more prize money, premium TV windows and behind-the-scenes content, such as its "Race for the Emirates NBA Cup" features that followed the Spurs–Thunder and Knicks–Magic semifinals.

Fans are starting to treat it like a real event on the calendar rather than a side show. Neutral-site games in Las Vegas bring a Final Four feel, and the straightforward format is easy to follow: groups, then knockouts, then a final.

The real test will come over time. Do players and coaches look back on these titles as meaningful, or as nice bonuses? Do teams change how they manage minutes because of it? As Rivers hinted, there is a balance between chasing Cup glory and staying fresh for the playoffs.

For now, though, the debate can wait. Tonight, it is simple. Spurs versus Knicks. Wembanyama versus Brunson. A trophy on the line. More than half a million dollars per player up for grabs. And a packed house in Las Vegas ready to see who handles this new kind of pressure best.

By the end of the night, either San Antonio or New York will walk off the T-Mobile Arena floor as the latest team to prove that the in-season tournament is not just a gimmick – it is another chance to win, to earn and to change the way we talk about their season.