REMATCH OF CUP SHOWPIECE AMPED UP

Knicks, Spurs meet again in decider with New York ready to shed their underdogs tag

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The Spurs are big favourites to win the NBA Finals, but observers thinking that it will be an easy road are overlooking the fact that the New York Knicks beat San Antonio in the mid-December NBA Cup championship game.

The Knicks dominated the fourth quarter that night in Las Vegas and rallied for a 124-113 victory. Some Spurs players have not forgotten that as they enter Game 1 of the NBA Finals on June 3 (June 4, Singapore time) in San Antonio.

“Obviously, it was a tough loss,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said on June 2.

“It wasn’t season-ending, so it doesn’t feel as bad as probably your season ending in the play-offs. But obviously, we wanted to win. I think just us as competitors, you want to win every single game.”

That marks one of eight New York victories in the past 12 meetings, including two of three this season, counting a split of the two regular-season meetings.

The Spurs are riding high after taking down the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games in the Western Conference Finals.