Knicks Edge Raptors in Thrilling Finish, Now Face Magic in High-Stakes NBA Cup Semifinals – Who Will Rise?

There’s an undeniable buzz swirling around as the Knicks punch their ticket to Las Vegas — a milestone that feels long overdue. After ousting the Raptors in a gritty road showdown, powered by Jalen Brunson’s electric 35-point performance and a lockdown defensive burst in the second quarter, New York isn’t just surviving; they’re thriving. Now, the stakes skyrocket as they gear up to clash with the Magic this Saturday at 5:30 p.m., with a golden ticket to the NBA Cup Finals hanging in the balance. It’s been three years of crawling out of the group stage, but this marks the first time the Knicks will walk into the final four under Vegas lights — a chance to rewrite past disappointments against the Bucks and Hawks. Sure, Orlando’s been a thorn, claiming two wins this season, but with Karl-Anthony Towns rallying the locker room’s spirit, this New York squad is fired up and ready to throw down against the league’s finest. The city’s hopes, the team’s grit, and a fierce competitive edge — it all converges now in Vegas. LEARN MORE

The Knicks are officially heading to Las Vegas.

New York booked their ticket to the NBA Cup Semifinals with their road win over the Raptors on Tuesday night.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 35 points, and the squad used a strong defensive second quarter to open a double-digit advantage that they never looked back from.

The Knicks will now face the Magic on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. with a trip to the NBA Cup Finals on the line.

Orlando beat the Miami Heat, 117-108, in the first Quarterfinals matchup Tuesday night.

New York has made it out of the group stage in all three years of the NBA Cup’s existence, but this will be their first time advancing to Vegas for the final four.

They were routed by the Bucks two years ago and fell to Trae Young and the Hawks last year.

Standing in their way now is a pesky Magic squad, whom they have lost to twice in three tries this season.

That lone victory, though, came with Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined this past weekend.

“This locker room is ecstatic,” Towns said. “It’s an opportunity to represent our city, represent our team over in Vegas — the Cup brings out a competitive edge in all of us in this league, and we’re just happy we have a chance to go out there and compete against the best of them.”