San Antonio Spurs vs New York Knicks Prediction & Betting Picks (December 16, 2025)
The 2025-26 NBA Cup will crown a new champion on Tuesday night, when the San Antonio Spurs battle the New York Knicks. Victor Wembanyama and co. will enter T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as light 2.5-point underdogs, but could offer instant betting value.
Wemby and the Spurs, after all, did just knock off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to get to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship game. It’d almost feel like a waste for them to come up short now.
Either way, the game has a tight spread, a modest 228.5 total, and the Knicks are mild -130 favorites at DraftKings and other major online sportsbooks. So, is New York a favorite worth betting on, or are the underdog Spurs the team to back?
I’ll walk you through the latest odds and key matchups, highlighting the best bets on my way to a Spurs vs. Knicks prediction.
Game Details
- Matchup: San Antonio Spurs (18-7) vs. New York Knicks (18-7)
- Date & Time: Tuesday, December 16th at 7:30 pm (8:30 pm ET)
- Venue: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
- How to Watch: Prime Video
Early Season Performance & Trends
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs have looked like one of the best teams in the NBA this year, as they’ve withstood an injury to top player Victor Wembayama to still go 18-7 through their first 25 games.
San Antonio got off to a blazing 5-0 start before stumbling against the Suns and Lakers, but rebounded to win their next three. They’ve yet to drop three consecutive games on the season, and enter the 2025-26 NBA Emirates Cup in strong form, with wins in five of their last six games.
Through that hot start, the Spurs have flexed elite defensive muscle, while unlocking numerous player’s ceilings. Second-year guard Stephon Castle has made a healthy return to the lineup and has been thriving, while De’Aaron Fox is also running the offense at a high level.
San Antonio shows remarkable depth and balance, being able to push the pace and hang with just about anyone offensively, but also grind opponents to a pulp on the defensive end of the floor.
New York Knicks
The Knicks aren’t quite the same team they were last year, as former head coach Tom Thibodeau is no longer around to drive his stars into the ground.
New York definitely proved their worth with a run to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, however, and they seem to have picked up where they left off. Like the Spurs, they are also off to a nice 18-7 start, with their recent stretch being particularly impressive.
The Knicks initially got off to a sluggish start this year, as they won their first two games, but dropped their next three. They’ve been in top form ever since, going 16-4 the rest of the way and 9-1 over their last 10.
This is very clearly a team on a mission, anchored by the star power of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on offense, as well as a layered and willing defense.
Head‑to‑Head / Historical Context
The Spurs and Knicks don’t play in the same conference, so they have only run into each other 105 times in NBA history. San Antonio holds the series edge, 59-46, but it’s been up and down lately with the two sides splitting the last six meetings (3-3) right down the middle.
San Antonio won the most recent game in March of 2025, taking the Knicks out by 15, 120-105. The Knicks won the other showdown last season, 117-114.
New York and San Antonio have one previous “championship” battle, but it was for much higher stakes. The two sides battled for the 1999 NBA Finals, with the Spurs easily winning, 4-1.
Key Matchup Breakdown
The Spurs have a very good offense that centers around superstar big man Victor Wembanyama. Wemby has an elite inside/outside game that is tough to stop as he’s put up over 25 points per game with relative ease.
Wemby’s interior dominance and ability to pull opposing bigs out to the three-point line has allowed the Spurs to be quite versatile offensively, where they rank 7th in scoring with 119.7 points per game.
The Spurs are also a team with a slew of quality guards that can distract opposing defenses, as they can push the pace, finish inside, score in the mid-range, and hit from deep. The aforementioned Castle (18.4 ppg, 6.9 apg) and Fox (23.8 ppg, 6.1 apg) are a two-headed dragon, giving San Antonio two elite playmakers who can take over games as scorers at a moment’s notice.
That trio in particular plays into San Antonio’s ability to attack on the break (10th in transition points scored), while this team ranks 4th in two-point shooting percentage and 11th from outside.
This isn’t even touching on rotational players such as Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, or even rookie swingman Dylan Harper – all of which have chipped in at key moments.
Put simply, this is one of the deepest, most athletic, and most efficient teams in all of basketball.
New York is probably only ever going to go as far as Jalen Brunson takes them. We saw that in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and we see it again this year as he soaks up a ton of offensive usage and puts up over 28 points per game.
It’s not always a good thing, as Brunson lacks ideal size or elite athleticism, but he is certainly never short on heart, craftiness, or sheer offensive aptitude. Brunson continues to be New York’s lifeblood on offense, as he penetrates defenses at will, burns them from long range, and still finds time to find the open man at a 6.2-assist per game clip.
Karl-Anthony Towns (22 ppg) is still an excellent #2 scoring option for the Knicks, as he can stretch defenses out with his perimeter scoring, and can score inside when the right matchup presents itself.
New York is not just a two-man show, of course, as they get scoring contributions from OG Anunoby (16 ppg), Mikal Bridges (16.4 ppg), and Josh Hart (12.4 ppg), giving the Knicks a balanced and methodical offensive attack.
The Knicks are not as fast or as explosive as the Spurs are on offense, but they are a little craftier with more high-level experience in these types of game environments.
The Knicks used to be the easy call when assessing defensive matchups. They still defend well (8th in defensive efficiency) and slow games down with their pace (17th), of course.
New York also does a solid job limiting buckets in transition (12th), can be a terror down low (4th fewest points allowed in the paint per game), and they also know how to thwart penetration (8th in blocks).
San Antonio is right there with the Knicks. They’re 12th in defensive efficiency, but they have the 11th best scoring defense, rank 2nd in transition defense, rank 6th on the interior, and rank 10th in blocks.
Some of the Spurs’ defensive stats have also been negatively impacted by Wemby missing some time, so with him on the floor they’re a much more feared defense.
- Jalen Brunson vs. Spurs’ interior defense: You could say this is more about Brunson vs. Wemby. Brunson can live outside, but he loves to get easy buckets and find open mid-range shots. That won’t be easy against the 2nd best interior defense in the NBA.
- Spurs free-throw game vs. New York defense: San Antonio pushes the pace and is constantly in attack mode. Part of their game is getting to the charity stripe (7th most free throw attempts per game), but the Knicks do a great job of limiting those opportunities (7th fewest allowed).
- New York’s perimeter offense vs. Spurs perimeter defense: The Knicks have a bunch of guys who can hit from deep, as they connect on 37.8% of threes (5th best). This is the one major weakness for the Spurs (25th), and could allow the Knicks to thrive.
This is technically a road game for both teams, but a lot closer to a home game for the Spurs. It’s worth noting San Antonio has lost just two home games all year, while six of New York’s seven losses have come away from Madison Square Garden.
San Antonio has been decent (13-10-2) against the spread, but they’ve been especially good (7-3) ATS as the underdog. The Knicks, meanwhile, have been very good against the spread (17-8) overall and are 16-6 ATS when favored.
Neither team will be too impacted by injuries for this game. Miles McBride and Landry Shamet should miss this game, which is a mild ding to New York’s depth.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Jazz | +7.5 (-115) | +225 | Over 241.5 (-105) |
Grizzlies | -7.5 (-105) | -278 | Under 241.5 (-115) |
Betting Odds & Market Interpretation
Check out the latest Spurs vs. Knicks betting odds at DraftKings:
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
Spurs | +2.5 (-110) | +114 | Over 229.5 (-110) |
Knicks | -2.5 (-110) | -135 | Under 229.5 (-110) |
This is a very tightly priced game, and yet the Knicks are favored despite this not being a true home game, while the teams also have the exact same records.
The game total is a bit low, but plays into New York’s slower pace and the strong defensive aptitude of both teams.
From a Bettor’s Lens
The Spurs feel disrespected here. I would not be making them the underdog going into this game, as they have the best player on the floor, they have the better overall defense, and they sent quite the message by defeating OKC to reach the NBA Cup title game.
Situational Considerations
This is not your regular game. Players can earn extra money and some bragging rights by winning the Emirates NBA Cup Championship.
On top of that, neither of these teams get a home game in the NBA Cup title game. This game is played in Las Vegas, which is technically a lot closer to home for the Spurs than the Knicks.
Best Bets & Confidence Levels
| Bet | Rationale | Confidence Level |
|---|---|---|
San Antonio Spurs +114 | The Spurs feel like a smash value. They have the best player on the floor, they just beat the best team in the league, and they have the better overall defense. They offer way more value in this spot, especially with the Knicks so far from home. | 7/10 |
Under 229.5 (-110) | The Spurs can push the pace, but both teams have strong defensive bite, and championship games tend to be lower scoring. | 7/10 |
Prop Play – Jalen Brunson Over 31+ Points (-115) | Wemby to get 23+ is also appealing, but Brunson seems to always show up in big moments. He put up 35+ in both of his last two NBA Cup games, and he topped 31+ four times in the ECF. He’s going to deliver, even in a loss. | 6/10 |
Spurs vs. Knicks odds are shifting as bettors react to pace and matchup dynamics — track every line move, compare spreads and totals, and secure the best value at our trusted sportsbooks.
Final Score Prediction & Closing Thoughts
Final Score Prediction: Spurs 112, Knicks 110
My main Spurs vs. Knicks prediction is that San Antonio gets the win. Wemby’s return sparked an upset over the defending champion Thunder, and I don’t think it was for nothing.
I’m not entirely sold that the Spurs will march to the NBA Finals just yet, but I do think they’re already better than the Knicks. Even beyond Wemby, the Spurs are just too fast and too efficient for most teams to handle.
New York and San Antonio both defend well, and there’s a lot at stake here, so I do expect a slightly slower and more methodical game that hits the Under. Jalen Brunson is a big part of that, and I think he shows up as a primetime scorer, just as he’s been doing in the NBA Cup to this point.
Brunson should put up 31+ points and keep this one interesting until the end, but my NBA Cup prediction is that he and his Knicks will fall short in a close loss.
