The NBA Cup was designed to inject some drama and increase the stakes to the middle of the regular season. For reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Cup has also proven to be some effective playoff preparation for the young Thunder.

Oklahoma City, the reigning champs and a heavy preseason favorite to repeat, are a massive +125 favorite to win the NBA Finals for a second straight season.

The New York Knicks face the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs battle the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup Semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Jaylen Brown locks up Luka Doncic in Game 5 to seal the Bill Russell trophy as 2024 NBA Finals MVP.

No, the NBA Cup is not the same as the playoffs. But it provides the Knicks with an opportunity to gain more experience in playoff-like atmospheres.

Seasons of near misses and brief breakthroughs shape the NBA teams with fewer playoff appearances, franchises whose rare postseason runs leave a mark long after the final buzzer.

Jalen Williams expressed confidence in his Oklahoma City Thunder squad beating the 1996 Chicago Bulls and 2016 Golden State Warriors.

One could say that the Los Angeles Lakers claimed supremacy over the NBA during the early 2000s. Boasting one of the greatest duos of all time in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, the Purple and Gold remain the last team to three-peat (2000-2002) in the league to date.