The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic square off in the NBA Cup semifinals on Saturday, with both clubs eager to punch their ticket to the tournament final in Las Vegas. The Knicks, who come into this contest at 17-7 on the season, enter this contest on a four-game winning streak and with a recent victory over the Magic. Orlando is 15-10 and will try to overcome the absence of a key scorer to win this contest. Before tip-off from Las Vegas, you will find my Knicks vs Magic prediction below.
Our Knicks vs Magic Pick
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: New York Knicks @ Orlando Magic
- Date & Time: Saturday, December 13, 2025, 5:30 PM ET
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Broadcast: Prime Video
Key Storylines
New York arrives in Las Vegas with strong offensive numbers, averaging over 120 points per game. Jalen Brunson continues his elite scoring run, averaging more than 28 points with over 6 assists per game. The Knicks also get consistent contributions from Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Hart has been a big story, as the Knicks have improved dramatically with his addition to the starting lineup. However, guard Miles McBride is out with an ankle injury and Landry Shamet is sidelined, thinning New York’s backcourt rotation.
Orlando will be without forward Franz Wagner, who is expected to miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain, and Moritz Wagner is also out. That leaves Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Jalen Suggs as the main offensive weapons for the Magic. Orlando’s physical defensive style and rebounding abilities have served them well, but compensating for Wagner’s absence will be a major test in this high-stakes affair. This has been an evenly-matched season series so far this year and the Magic will try to overcome their injuries to keep the upper hand.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- These teams have met three times this season prior to this game, with the Magic holding a 2-1 advantage in the season series despite New York’s recent victory.
- The Knicks are a league-best 16-8 against the spread so far this season.
- Orlando is 12-13 against the spread entering the NBA Cup semifinals.
- Orlando is 13-12 in the over/under market this season.
- New York is 12-12 in the over/under market for the year.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | |
| Desmond Bane | |
| Paolo Banchero |
Knicks vs Magic Model Projection
Final Thoughts
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