Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic take on Bam Adebayo and the Heat in the opening half of our Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals doubleheader on Prime.
Enjoy the best of Tuesday’s Emirates NBA Cup East quarterfinal action with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights.
What we know about Tuesday night’s games:
It’s the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup 2025, featuring Heat-Magic (6 ET) and Knicks-Raptors (8:30 ET) on Prime. Win or go home!
The Magic have won the prior two matchups over the Heat this season by a combined five points, while the Knicks defeated the Raptors 116-94 on Nov. 30.
Franz Wagner is out for the Magic, as is Miles McBride for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns is questionable for New York.
6:00 PM / DECEMBER 9, 2025
Get hyped for the Emirates NBA Cup 2025 quarterfinals
Who will stay alive in their pursuit of the Cup? Find out tonight on Prime.
COMING UP ON PRIME…
It’s Miami vs. Orlando with a spot in the @emirates NBA Cup Semifinals on the line!
Watch here: https://t.co/kDXyLLgkHh pic.twitter.com/3zvWgYB6cP
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2025
Heat legend Dwyane Wade has thoughts.
Dwyane Wade gives his Knockout Round predictions for the Emirates NBA Cup! 👀
Who ya got? Watch all the action beginning tonight on Prime! pic.twitter.com/l68PmyZNzQ
— NBA (@NBA) December 9, 2025
5:45 PM / DECEMBER 9, 2025
Welcome to the Knockout Rounds of the Emirates NBA Cup!
Karl-Anthony Towns and the New York Knicks take on the Toronto Raptors at 8:30 ET in the second half of our Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals doubleheader on Prime Video.
We’ve got win-or-go-home basketball tonight, as the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals open with Heat-Magic (6 ET) and Knicks-Raptors (8:30 ET) on Prime Video.
The Heat and Magic, Southwest Division foes, have already played a pair of thrillers so far this season, with Orlando taking both, including a 106-105 Magic win last Friday.
Since then, though, star forward Franz Wagner (22.7 ppg, 6.1 reb) went down with a high ankle sprain, forcing him to miss tonight’s contest.
As Paolo Banchero (20.4 ppg, 7.9 reb) also works his way back into shape after returning from a groin strain, the Magic will rely on a varied offense, led by Desmond Bane (21.8 ppg over his last five games), Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black, and a strong defense (111.8 defensive rating, 5th in the NBA).
“We talked about our depth and our defense being our strong suit,” said Coach Jamal Mosley. “So, our guys are going to have to step up to the plate.”
The Heat have been racing so far this season, playing at the league’s highest pace (105.4) while posting the third-most points per game (122.8), third-most fast break points (18.4) and the most points on drives (33.7).
Norman Powell (24.8 ppg, 50.5 FG%) has been a stalwart scorer for them all season, while Tyler Herro (23.8 ppg, 52.4 FG%) has returned to add slashing and shooting, complimenting the front court duo of Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware.
The Knicks have won seven of their last eight, as well as the last nine over Toronto, entering tonight’s contest.
Since the Raptors sent OG Anunoby to New York on Dec. 30, 2023 for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the Knicks are 100-56, while Toronto is 58-100.
Barrett’s out tonight, but Quickley and Anunoby will be in action, as these two Eastern Division foes lock up for the chance to win the Emirates NBA Cup 2025.