NBA Cup Finals Preview: Knicks vs. Spurs Set for Showdown in Vegas as Dwyane Wade Sounds Off on Heat's Exit
The stage is set in Las Vegas for the first-ever NBA Cup Finals, and it’s a matchup that carries plenty of intrigue: the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will battle it out tonight for the inaugural title. Both squads have taken different paths to get here, but the result is the same - a shot at history, a serious payday, and a chance to plant their flag as legitimate contenders heading into the heart of the season.
Let’s start with the road to the Finals.
The Knicks punched their ticket with a gritty win in Toronto followed by a strong showing against the Magic in the semifinals. It’s been a team effort, top to bottom, and they’re playing with the kind of cohesion that suggests this isn’t just a hot streak - it might be a sign of what’s to come.
The Spurs? They’ve been one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
They took down the Lakers in L.A. - and did it without their franchise centerpiece, Victor Wembanyama. Then, just three days later, they handed the Thunder only their second loss of the season.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a team figuring out how to win, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.
And while the trophy is the headline, let’s not ignore the financial stakes here. Every player in the Finals is guaranteed a $212,000 payday, and the winners will walk away with over $530,000 each.
That’s not chump change, especially for younger players on rookie deals. But beyond the money, this is about momentum.
Win this thing, and you’re not just NBA Cup champs - you’re making a statement to the rest of the league.
Wade Weighs In on Heat’s Missed Opportunity
Of course, not everyone’s thrilled about how things shook out. Dwyane Wade, speaking on his Time Out podcast, didn’t hold back when talking about his Miami Heat falling short. Miami was bounced in the quarterfinals by the Magic, 117-108, and Wade - a Heat legend through and through - made it clear that loss stung.
“I was just focused on UD,” Wade said, referring to longtime teammate and now broadcaster Udonis Haslem. “He’s a professional, he’s gotta talk about Orlando, he’s gotta do his job, but at the same time, he was HOT. Bro, I was hot.”
Wade admitted he had personal reasons for wanting the Heat to make the trip to Vegas - he was planning to be there for the Cup and wanted to see his guys on the big stage. But beyond that, he felt like the team missed a real opportunity to show who they are.
“I was pissed off watching that effort,” Wade said. “I didn’t like it.
I don’t wanna be that guy because they’re working hard, I’m on the outside. But at the same time, I really wanted them to be in Vegas, so I’m sitting there, I’m yelling at the TV, ‘Y’all don’t wanna go to Vegas?!’”
It’s classic Wade - passionate, loyal, and brutally honest. And he wasn’t just venting. He was pointing to something deeper: a lack of urgency from a team that, for a moment, looked like it might be ready to break through.
Heat’s Slide and the Bane Breakout
The Magic were without Franz Wagner in that game, sidelined with a high ankle sprain. That should’ve tilted the scales in Miami’s favor.
But Desmond Bane had other plans. The Magic guard erupted for 37 points on 14-of-24 shooting, and the Heat simply had no answer.
Wade didn’t sugarcoat it: “I’m used to seeing the Heat be a resilient team,” he said. “But they had no answer for Bane, and that was that.
I was pissed off. I wanna see them in Vegas.
I’m mad.”
And really, who could blame him? The Heat had been hovering near the top of the Eastern Conference earlier this season, but a five-game skid has dropped them to ninth.
They’re still above the play-in line - for now - with a 3.5-game cushion over the Bucks. But the East is tight.
Six teams sit just 1.5 games or fewer ahead of them, meaning one good run could launch Miami right back into the top tier.
Tyler Herro is back in the lineup after missing time early in the season, and Bam Adebayo continues to anchor the defense and provide steady offense. Norman Powell, acquired in free agency, has been a bright spot - and his former team, the Clippers, have struggled without him. There’s still plenty of talent on this roster, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
What’s at Stake Tonight
While Wade and Heat fans watch from home, the Knicks and Spurs have everything to play for tonight. For New York, a win would be a validation of a roster that’s been building chemistry and toughness under the radar. For San Antonio, it’s a chance to show the league that they’re more than just a young, rebuilding team - they’re ready to compete now.
No matter who lifts the trophy, this first NBA Cup Final is more than a novelty. It’s a proving ground. And for the teams that showed up and showed out, it’s a chance to change the narrative around their season - and maybe even their franchise.
Tip-off can’t come soon enough.