After choking Coach PJ Carlesimo in 1997, Latrell Sprewell was in a difficult situation. The infamous incident saw the All-Star forward receiving a 68-game suspension. Despite the controversy, the New York Knicks still believed Sprewell would be a good acquisition.

The Magic leaned on an 11-man rotation in hopes of running the Knicks into the ground, a tactic that has worked against New York in the past. In theory, it should have worked again — especially with the Knicks missing two perimeter pieces in Miles McBride (ankle) and Landry Shamet (shoulder). Instead, the Knicks flipped the script.

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down the keys to the New York Knicks punching their ticket to Vegas with their victory over the Toronto Raptors, including Jalen Brunson’s impact this year and the Knicks’ elite 3-point shooting game.

The New York Knicks and Orlando Magic meet Saturday in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, Nevada, with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.

New York hosts the San Antonio Spurs after Jalen Brunson scored 40 points in the New York Knicks' 132-120 win against the Orlando Magic.

It was just over a year ago that Mike Brown was fired from the Kings, sending his coaching future into uncertainty. Now, his new Knicks squad is thriving under his tutelage and in the NBA Cup final.

A meeting between Josh Hart and Mike Brown amid struggles for both the veteran guard and the team as a whole sparked a recent run that has New York in the NBA Cup finals.