NBA Cup Semifinals Best Bets: Thunder vs. Spurs, Knicks vs. Magic Picks

The defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder are steamrolling opponents while becoming the second team all-time to win 24 of their first 25 games. The Thunder have won a franchise-record 16 straight games entering Saturday night’s NBA Cup semifinal matchup in Las Vegas against the San Antonio Spurs.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can start clearing space for his second straight league MVP award and looks unstoppable most nights. The Spurs will get big man Victor Wembanyama back after a 12-game absence and see if they can make a run at notching the upset during the West final.

The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic are playing in the East final and New York is soaring with eight wins in its past nine games. The Magic have to make up for the loss of star guard Franz Wagner (ankle), who will miss his third consecutive game.

These are the only two games on Saturday night as the stage belongs to the NBA Cup.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

The Thunder have prevailed by an average of 20.8 points during their 16-game winning streak and the last three contests were decided by a total of 100 points (21, 30 and 49). Oklahoma City’s deep squad got even better recently when standout Jalen Williams returned from two wrist surgeries and he’s averaging 17.3 points, 6.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds.

Gilgeous-Alexander averages 32.6 points while six of his teammates are averaging over 12 per game. One surprise reserve opening eyes is Ajay Mitchell, who is averaging 14.2 points and his stellar play is allowing SGA (33.1 minutes per game) to get a couple extra minutes of rest most nights.

San Antonio is thrilled to have Wembanyama (calf) back though they went 9-3 without him and coach Mitch Johnson said the big man will be on a minutes restriction and be subbed out sooner than usual. The Spurs have lost eight of their past 10 games to Oklahoma City so there’s a need for somebody like reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle (season-high 30 points in Wednesday’s 132-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers) to step up.

But some nights, you just have to accept you aren’t going to win a ballgame. San Antonio should put up a good fight but expect the Thunder to make it 25-1 and book a spot in the title game.

Thunder -9.5 spread, -115 (DraftKings)

NEW YORK KNICKS VS. ORLANDO MAGIC

The Knicks and Magic have met three times since Nov. 12 with Orlando winning by 17 and 12 points and New York posting a 106-100 home win last Sunday. The latter contest is the one in which Wagner was hurt and the Magic are certainly losing punch without the player who averages 22.7 points per game.

Jalen Brunson scored 30 points on Sunday for New York and is averaging 31.3 points over the three meetings. Overall, he has scored 30 or more points on nine occasions, including each of the past three games. Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) missed Sunday’s game and returned two days later to collect 16 rebounds in a 117-101 victory against the Toronto Raptors.

Orlando has won nine of its last 13 games and offseason acquisition Desmond Bane is lighting it up with three 37-point outings in the past six games. Bane was 6 of 9 from 3-point range in Tuesday’s 117-108 win over the Miami Heat and he will surely be ready to provide a heat check against the Knicks.

Orlando needs a big game from Paolo Banchero to win this contest and he will be playing in his fourth game since missing 10 with a groin strain. New York figures to fend off the charge and look for someone like unsung Mikal Bridges (16.4 average) to be one of the stars.

Knicks -5.5 spread, -105 (DraftKings)