NBA Cup Semifinals Preview: Knicks One Win Away from Finals

The New York Knicks are poised for a significant moment in their quest for the NBA Cup, needing just one more victory to reach the finals. They face the Orlando Magic in the semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas, a matchup that carries heavy implications for both teams.

According to the New York Post, the Knicks must match the Magic's physicality, as they've struggled against their aggressiveness in earlier encounters. Jalen Brunson's performance has been exceptional, but he will likely face increased defensive pressure, necessitating support from teammates like Karl-Anthony Towns, who has had inconsistent performances against the Magic.

The Knicks also need to improve their 3-point defense, which has been a weakness this season; in their previous losses to the Magic, they allowed Desmond Bane to score significantly from beyond the arc.

ESPN notes that this semifinal is particularly intriguing as it is the fourth meeting between these teams this season, with the Knicks needing to capitalize on the absence of the Magic's Franz Wagner due to injury.

The Knicks' journey to this point saw them bounce back from an early Cup loss to the Chicago Bulls, and they secured their semifinal spot with a strong win against the Toronto Raptors, where Brunson scored 35 points.

Conversely, the Magic have shown resilience and depth, overcoming the absence of key players like Paolo Banchero in earlier rounds. Bane has emerged as a pivotal player for the Magic, scoring heavily in recent games.

As both teams vie for a spot in the finals, the Knicks will look to harness their recent momentum and strategic adjustments to secure the victory.