Orlando to face New York in NBA Cup semis at Vegas
Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during the game against the Miami Heat during the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals on December 9, 2025 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Fernando Medina / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)
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The Orlando Magic, sparked by 37 points from Desmond Bane,
and the New York Knicks advanced to an NBA Cup semi-final showdown with
breakthrough triumphs on Tuesday.
Bane went 6-of-9 from three-point range and added six
rebounds and five assists in Orlando's 117-108 victory over visiting Miami.
Jalen Suggs added 20 points for the Magic, who despite
lacking top scorer Franz Wagner due to a high ankle sprain won for the 11th
time in 15 games and improved to 5-0 in Cup play.
"We need these reps. We need to play in these
meaningful games," Bane said. "We're a young team trying to make
something happen like a run so we need these moments."
New York's Jalen Brunson scored 35 points, 20 of them in the
first quarter, to power the Knicks over host Toronto 117-101 in Tuesday's other
quarter-final.
Josh Hart added 21 points for the Knicks while Karl-Anthony
Towns had 14 points and 16 rebounds as New York won for the eighth time in nine
games.
"We knew it was going to be a tough one," Hart
said. "We had to be ready. Defensively the second quarter was amazing. We
only gave up 13 points and that's where we were really able to build our lead
and put the game away.
"It's about winning every game, winning every
possession. If you do that, you'll get to the end goal."
The Knicks, quarter-final losers the past two years, and
Magic, on their best Cup run, will meet in a Saturday semi-final at Las Vegas,
with the winner advancing to next Tuesday's Cup final.
At Orlando, Bane scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to
deny Miami any chance of a comeback.
"Winning time," Bane said. "That's all I care
about is winning."
Paolo Banchero, who returned last Friday after missing 10
games with a groin strain, added 18 points for the Magic, who delivered Miami a
fourth consecutive loss.
- Knicks surge early -
At Toronto, Brunson hit 7-of-9 shots from the floor and
4-of-6 three-pointers in the first quarter to ignite an early New York surge.
The Knicks opened the second quarter with a 19-4 run to
seize a 54-43 lead and stretched it to 69-52 at half-time.
Toronto, led by Brandon Ingram's 31 points, suffered a sixth
defeat in seven games and a 10th consecutive loss to New York.
Wednesday's quarter-finals see Phoenix at Oklahoma City and
the San Antonio Spurs at the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reigning NBA champions Oklahoma City will try to stretch
their win streak to a club-record 16 games and overall record to 24-1, matching
Golden State in 2015 for the best 25-game start in NBA history.
San Antonio will be without Victor Wembanyama because of a left calf strain that has sidelined him for almost a month.


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