The Emirates NBA Cup comes to a close on Tuesday night with a marquee clash between a pair of 18-7 squads, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks (8:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Spurs C Victory Wembanyama and Knicks C Karl-Anthony Towns could deliver a fascinating battle of the bigs.
Below, we’ll break down the Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Cup Championship, including picks for PrizePicks. Use PrizePicks NBA to make player picks and win money if you’re right.
Spurs vs. Knicks Prediction, Spread, Over/Under
The paint play in this game could determine who takes home the Cup hardware. Wemby is full-go for San Antonio, and his presence will KAT and the rest of New York's frontcourt.
Knicks G Jalen Brunson is fully healthy, and could give the Spurs backcourt fits.
Spurs vs. Knicks Over/Under, Spread
The Spurs enter Tuesday’s game as 2.5-point underdogs, returning a payout on PrizePicks Team Picks if they win outright.
The Knicks are the favorites with a payout if they win, via PrizePicks Team Picks.
- Spread: New York Knicks -2.5
- Over/Under: 233.5
- Game Winner Payout: Spurs | Knicks
Team Picks data is live at the time of writing and is subject to change.
Spurs vs. Knicks Prediction on Spread
- The Knicks enter the championship final riding a five-game winning streak, having covered the spread in all five contests.
- New York boasts the league's fourth-best scoring offense (121.0 PPG) and fourth-best scoring defense (112.2 PPG). Their +8.8 average point differential also ranks fourth in the NBA.
- The Knicks are 17-8 against the spread this season (68%), sitting with the best ATS record in the NBA.
- Although the Spurs’ scoring defense ranks 11th overall (115.2 PPG allowed), they face a Knicks perimeter attack that ranks fourth in 3-pointers made per game (15.1).
- Keep an eye on how New York comes out of the locker room after halftime. The Knicks score the third-most third-quarter points in the league (31.6) — however, they also surrender the third-most (31.4) in that same frame.
Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Picks, Stats for NBA Cup Championship
Here are three top Spurs vs. Knicks picks to target on Tuesday. Key PrizePicks player projections are headlined by Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Brunson, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Spurs C Victor Wembanyama vs. Knicks Projection: 32.5 Pts+Rebs
- In his return from a 12-game absence on Saturday, Wembanyama posted 22 points and 9 rebounds in just 21 minutes, 1.48 P+R per minute.
- The last time Wemby faced a fully-healthy Knicks squad, he erupted for a career-high 40 points and 20 rebounds. In three career matchups against the Knicks, he averages 47.7 combined points and boards.
- With C Mitchell Robinson out, the Knicks lack the verticality to bother the French phenom’s release point. KAT struggles to defend in space, and New York allows the sixth-most rebounds over their last three games.
- Don't be surprised if Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson extends Wembanyama's leash and gives the San Antonio star more opportunities to feast on the Knicks' interior, a group that allows for 44.9 points in the paint per game.
Knicks PG Jalen Brunson vs. Spurs Projection: 36.5 Pts+Asts
- Brunson has cleared this 36.5 P+A line in four of his last five contests, averaging 38.8 combined points and assists over that stretch.
- The lefty flamethrower has torched the Spurs historically, with 35.3 PPG in his last three.
- San Antonio plays at a high pace (100.3), creating a volume-friendly environment for a guard with a 30.6% usage rate.
- The Spurs’ perimeter defense remains porous, surrendering 27.0 assists per game (19th in the NBA), giving Brunson ample opportunity to facilitate if the double-teams arrive early.
Knicks PG Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Spurs Projection: 11 Rebs
- Since returning to the center position full-time for New York, KAT has been a vacuum on the glass, averaging a career-high 12.8 RPG.
- Towns has been a model of consistency, recording double-digit rebounds in 23 of his 24 starts, including 15 double-doubles and 11.9 RPG (second-most in NBA).
- Opposing centers are grabbing 13.4 RPG against San Antonio.
- In his last 10 games, Towns is averaging 11.9 boards, and he takes on a Spurs team that allows 31.4 defensive RPG and a 73.3% rebound percentage.
Make Spurs vs. Knicks NBA Cup Picks on PrizePicks
Spurs vs. Knicks isn’t the only avenue basketball fans have to make NBA picks. After the Cup, you can earn you can earn real money on PrizePicks if your predictions are right.
Just choose players, predict More or Less on their projected stats, and follow the hoops action to see if your picks hit.
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