Key Highlights
- The New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Cup final after defeating the Orlando Magic.
- Victor Wembanyama returned from injury and played just seven minutes in the first half, impacting both teams’ strategies.
- Chet Holmgren scored a slam dunk off Alex Caruso’s pass, contributing to Oklahoma City’s significant lead.
- The Spurs have struggled without Wembanyama, but showed improved performance with him on the court.
NBA Cup Semifinals: Knicks Advance and Wembanyama Returns
Follow along for live updates from the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. The New York Knicks are into the NBA Cup final, with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder facing off now to determine who will join them.
The Knicks defeated the Orlando Magic 132-120 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Jalen Brunson had a dominant performance, putting up 40 points the win to advance to Monday’s final.
Victor Wembanyama’s Return and Impact
The NBA Cup semifinals are closely following the comeback of Victor Wembanyama from his calf injury. He played just seven minutes in the first half, providing a spark in his limited minute with five points to go with five rebounds, one assist, and two steals.
During that stretch, Wembanyama was a team-high +17, showing his significant impact even with limited court time. The Thunder scored only four points in the 439 seconds he was on the floor in the first half, all in the second quarter.
Thunder’s Defensive Strategies
The Oklahoma City Thunder have outscored the San Antonio Spurs by 23 points in the 16:41 that Victor Wembanyama sat out. Despite this, the Thunder only lead 49-46 at halftime due to Wembanyama’s dominance.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting, tallying a single assist and turning the ball over three times. As a team, Oklahoma City is shooting just 39 percent from the field.
Sports Analysis and Expert Insights
Mike Prada, Staff Editor for The Athletic, commented on Wembanyama’s impact: “If it weren’t for Victor Wembanyama, we’d be more impressed by that move Chet Holmgren made at the top of the key to score for a layup. There aren’t many guards who can cross over between their legs as quickly and as low as Holmgren just did.”
Prada also highlighted Wembanyama’s defensive play: “Victor Wembanyama has had a few second-jump blocks this season, so the one he had to close the half is not exactly unique. But good lord.
Jalen Williams lofted the ball 18 feet in the air when he saw Wembanyama lurking, and Isaiah Hartenstein thought he’d have a clear layup while Wembanyama was still in the air. Instead, Wembanyama landed and swiped across while barely jumping to get the block on Hartenstein.”
Spurs’ Performance Without Wembanyama
The Spurs struggled without Wembanyama, outscored by 23 points when he was off the court. However, their performance improved significantly with him back in the game.
Chet Holmgren made a full head of steam, scoring a slam dunk and making a field goal to put Oklahoma City up by 16. Victor Wembanyama returned on the next whistle but had his hands full, clamping down effectively as per Prada: “Devin Vassell giving an all-out effort on defense! Watch Spurs/Thunder LIVE on Prime.”
Conclusion
The NBA Cup semifinals continue to be a thrilling series, with key players like Victor Wembanyama making significant impacts. The Knicks’ victory and the ongoing battle between the Thunder and Spurs set up an exciting final matchup.
Mike Prada summed it up: “Good luck limiting Victor Wembanyama to however many minutes he’s supposed to be limited to, given that first half effort.” As we move into Monday’s final, all eyes will be on how these teams perform in the concluding games of this high-stakes tournament.
