Spurs Vs. Knicks NBA Betting Predictions, Picks and Parlays for 12/16/2025

MSG Showdown: The Cup Hangover and a French Phenomenon

The San Antonio Spurs are trekking into Madison Square Garden to battle the New York Knicks, fresh off a high-stakes, wild-ride NBA Cup tournament. Seriously, both of these squads made it to the Cup Finals, which is set for Tuesday, meaning this is a pre-final appetizer, but also potentially a huge trap game. The Knicks, who just absolutely cooked the Magic behind a 40-point masterpiece from Jalen Brunson, are looking like an Eastern Conference powerhouse, sitting pretty at 18-7. They’re 9-1 in their last ten, which is bonkers. Brunson is an absolute monster right now; the guy is simply unstoppable, even getting viral moments for dropping guys with his crossover. They’re missing Landry Shamet and Miles McBride, which bites into the guard depth, but the core is clicking.

Then you have the Spurs, who are making noise in the West at 18-7 themselves. They had the biggest moment of their season just a couple of days ago when Victor Wembanyama came back from a 12-game injury absence. And he didn't just come back, he returned with a vengeance, dropping 22 points and nine boards in a huge win over the Thunder in the Cup semifinals. Wemby getting MVP chants in Vegas was a sight to see. This is the official opening day of trade season, too, with a ton of players now eligible, and both New York and San Antonio are always in the middle of those swirling trade winds. 

The buzz about the Knicks being Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rumored destination of choice is still hanging in the air, but the main story right now is that this game feels like a serious psychological test. Do the teams rest guys before the Cup Final on Tuesday? Can the Knicks’ home dominance (13-1 at MSG) overcome the high that Wemby's return just gave the Spurs? The Spurs have their entire main rotation good to go, no injuries listed at all, which is massive. The clash of styles—New York's defense and transition versus San Antonio's perimeter game and Wemby's impact—is going to be fun to watch, regardless of the pacing.

Betting Picks & Predictions

The Knicks are 2 1/2-point favorites, which again, feels super tight for a team that’s almost unbeatable at home and is one of the hottest in the league. However, you cannot ignore the Wemby effect. That man’s return gave the Spurs a major jolt of energy, and with them being completely healthy, they’re a threat. 

Still, that New York home court is a different beast, and Jalen Brunson is simply playing at a level that rivals anyone in the league right now. They just score too much, averaging over 121 a night. The Spurs defense is fine, but they’ve been allowing almost 120 points a game over their last ten, and they will not be able to stop the barrage in MSG. Prediction: Knicks to cover this small spread.