The NBA Cup’s second Friday brings two important Prime Video matchups, with plenty at stake in Group Play. The defending champion Knicks visit the Pacers at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Warriors’ trip to San Antonio at 9:30 p.m. ET to take on last season’s Western Conference champions.
New York won both the NBA Cup and the NBA title last season, but its Cup defense began with a 98-93 loss to Philadelphia. Indiana also lost its opener, falling 145-125 to Miami. With just four Group Play games for each team, neither side has much room to slip. The Knicks are coming off another defeat, a 115-107 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday.
One player to watch is Jalen Brunson, with the expectation that he’ll score above his points line. Last season’s Finals MVP has often taken charge when New York needs a lift. After two straight losses, he could shoulder much of the scoring against a Pacers crowd with a nationally televised game to watch.
San Antonio is 10-2 and second in the Western Conference after reaching last season’s NBA Finals. Golden State is 8-4 and has been among the league’s most effective three-point teams, making 16.5 shots from beyond the arc per game.
Stephen Curry is another scoring pick, with an expectation that he’ll make more than his usual number of three-pointers. He has averaged just over 23 points across his past 10 games, and the Warriors’ offense still relies heavily on his shooting. Golden State may need to take plenty of shots from deep to stay with the Spurs, giving Curry more chances to connect.
Victor Wembanyama is also projected to score above his points line. San Antonio averages more than 119 points per game, and Wembanyama is central to its offense. The Warriors often use smaller lineups, which could give him opportunities near the basket as well as space to shoot from outside. The game is expected to be high-scoring, so he may see plenty of the ball.
Odds may change.
Nine Group Play games are scheduled for Friday. Other matchups include the Cavaliers visiting the Heat, the Jazz playing the Rockets and the Thunder facing the Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET.
