NBA Cup Update: Magic and Knicks Set for Semifinal Showdown in Las Vegas

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Orlando Magic shooting guard Desmond Bane matched a season high by scoring 37 points as the Magic overcame a 15-0 first quarter deficit to advance to the semifinals of the Emirates NBA Cup with a 117-108 win over the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.  

Kia Center. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

With the win moving the Magic closer to an NBA cup title and a $500,000 cash prize per player, the win has motivated Bane to recoup some of the salary he lost due to a $35,000 fine issued against him by the NBA yesterday for throwing a basketball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby, according to an NBA press release Monday afternoon.

Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane from his days at TCU. Photo: Nathan Lowe, Wikimedia Commons

“That’s huge, man. I just lost $35,000. I gotta go get it back somehow,” Bane said during his postgame press conference.

Aside from that quirky quip, Bane also noted how excited he was for himself and his teammates to get to play some big-stage basketball early in the season.

“I’m excited,” Bane said in his postgame press conference. Great opportunity for us to play some meaningful basketball early in the season. So, I know the group is excited.”

Magic point guard Jalen Suggs scored 20 points and Magic center Paolo Banchero added 18 points in the effort.

Bane commented on how glad he was to have teammate Banchero closer to 100% court in his postgame press conference.

“Every time he puts the ball on the floor, it seems like there are three guys coming after him. The beautiful thing about him is that he’s a very willing passer,” Bane said.

Banchero continues to work his way back from a left groin strain he suffered back in a game on Nov. 12 against the New York Knicks that caused him to miss 10 games. He returned to action last Friday against the Heat.

Heat guard Norman Powell led their team in scoring with 21 points in the contest, and Heat guard Tyler Herro added 20 points as well. However, the Heat shot just 8-33 (24%) from the 3-point line compared to the Magic’s 15-32 (47%) output from the arc, sealing their fate in this contest.

Scotiabank Arena at Dusk. Photo: Adam Bishop, Wikimedia Commons

The New York Knicks won their matchup in the other Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinal, played Tuesday night, as they defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-101 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, setting the stage for a showdown in Las Vegas on Saturday against the Magic.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. Photo: Erik Drost, Wikimedia Commons

Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson led all scorers with 35 points in that contest. Knicks guard added 21 points, and Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns recorded his 17th double-double of the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds.

Raptors forward Brandon Ingram led his team with 31 points and Raptors guard Jamal Shead had 18 points in the effort. However, the Raptors were doomed by a second quarter that saw the Knicks outscore them 34-13, en route to never relinquishing the lead for the rest of the game.

The Magic and Knicks will square off in the first Emirates NBA Cup Semifinal game on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 3:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. central standard time) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The game will be available to stream on Amazon Prime.

The winner of that game will advance to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship on Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. central standard time) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. That game will also be available to stream on Amazon Prime. The winner of the Magic-Knicks semifinal will square off against the Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, or Los Angeles Lakers.