NEW YORK (AP) — Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable to face his former team Friday with a sprained right thumb, while Minnesota's Donte DiVincenzo will miss his return to Madison Square Garden with a toe injury.
The game is Minnesota's first at New York since the Knicks acquired Towns from the Timberwolves and sent Julius Randle and DiVincenzo to Minnesota just after training camps opened. The Knicks won at Minnesota last month.
Towns was hurt Monday in a loss to Detroit and sat out the Knicks' victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday, when he wore an Eagles shirt on the bench in the first half.
DiVincenzo recently moved into the starting lineup and scored a season-high 28 points Wednesday in a 116-115 loss to Golden State. But the Timberwolves listed him as out on their injury report Thursday with a sprained left big toe.
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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0), left, and Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (32) battle for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
New York Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after injuring his hand during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence with 22 points and nine rebounds, giving San Antonio a surge and the Oklahoma City Thunder just its second loss with the 111-109 victory Saturday night putting the Spurs in the NBA Cup final.
The Spurs play the New York Knicks in Tuesday night's final.
Oklahoma City's last defeat was Nov. 5 at Portland, and the Thunder carried a 16-game winning streak into this game. They now are 24-2, the second-best start behind only the 25-1 record by Golden State in 2015-16.
This is the Thunder's second loss in a row in Las Vegas. They also lost last year’s final to Milwaukee 97-81.
Wembanyama, who received “M-V-P” chants from the pro-Spurs crowd, had a plus-21 rating in 21 minutes. Teammate Devin Vassell scored 23 points and De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle each scored 22.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 29 points, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams each totaled 17.
Wembanyama had been out because of a strained left calf, though the Spurs went 9-3 in his absence. He was placed on a minutes restriction against the Thunder, but that didn't limit his impact.
Wembanyama, who entered the game averaging 26.2 points and 12.9 rebounds, gave the Spurs an immediate boost and sent a surge into the crowd. Fans began to roar when he removed his sweatpants before the second quarter, and Wembanyama had a plus-20 rating in just seven minutes even with his team trailing by three points at halftime.
But San Antonio ended the first half with a 13-point run to make it a contest. The Spurs used a 10-point run in the third quarter to go up 62-56 and set the stage for a tense fourth period.
Spurs: Play the Knicks on Tuesday night in the NBA Cup final.
Thunder: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to scoring in the second half of an NBA Cup semifinals basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, tangles with San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson (3) and Stephon Castle (5) under the net in the first half of an NBA Cup semifinals basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) jumps up for a shot near San Antonio Spurs' Harrison Barnes (40) and Luke Kornet (7) in the first half of an NBA Cup semifinals basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) jumps to the basket near San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) during the first half of an NBA Cup semifinals basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) sets to play the ball in the first half of an NBA Cup semifinals basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)
