NBA Pick ’Em Today: Best DFS Plays for 2025 NBA Cup Championship

Written By Nick Crain | Published at December 16, 2025
Dec 9, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates scoring against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at the 2025-26 NBA Emirates Cup at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

The NBA Cup championship in Las Vegas is one of the rare midseason spots that actually feels like a playoff game, and the stakes are real with players on both sides having a chance to cash a major bonus and make a statement to the rest of the league.

For Daily Fantasy Sports players building an Underdog card, this is exactly why DFS apps are so fun for one-game slates. There are tighter rotations, heavier minutes for stars and clearer offensive priorities. If you’re browsing higher/lower plays on Underdog for NBA Pick’em, these picks stand out for Spurs vs Knicks.

Today’s Best DFS Plays

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De’Aaron Fox (San Antonio Spurs) — Higher 29.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists

Fox’s role is built for a single-game card because the ball is in his hands, and the counting stats stack even if the scoring comes in waves. In a championship setting, San Antonio’s path usually includes Fox pressuring the paint and creating, which is exactly how this combo line gets cleared.

Devin Vassell (San Antonio Spurs) — Higher 13.5 Points

13.5 is a friendly number for a scorer who can get there on shot volume alone, especially if New York is loading up on the biggest threats. If the Spurs’ stars draw extra attention, Vassell is the kind of release valve who can turn clean looks into a quick cash.

Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks) — Higher 30.5 Points

If this game stays tight late, Brunson’s workload usually spikes because the Knicks trust him to create in the halfcourt and close possessions. Thirty-plus is never “easy,” but New York is comfortable living in Brunson pick-and-rolls and isolations when the stakes rise, plus he should get to the free throw line quite a bit.

Julian Champagnie (San Antonio Spurs) — Lower 12.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists

This is a classic fade where the minutes can be there, but the touches shrink as the stars dominate decisions. If Champagnie isn’t rebounding at a solid clip, it’s tough to consistently reach 13+ PRA without a scoring spike, and he's primarily a 3-point shooter which is streaky in its own right.

Karl-Anthony Towns (New York Knicks) — Higher 1.5 3-Pointers Made

Two made threes is a clean target for Towns because New York is comfortable spacing him out, and he doesn’t need a high-volume night to get there. If San Antonio protects the rim hard, it often pushes more of Towns’ looks to the perimeter, which plays directly into this line.

Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs) — Higher 22.5 Points

Wembanyama’s scoring floor rises in a spotlight game because the Spurs can always manufacture touches for him, and he can erase a slow start with one dominant stretch. Even if New York sends extra help, free throws and second-chance points are still live paths to clear 23 as he continues to prove he's among the best players in the entire league.

The best Underdog NBA Pick’em cards usually tell one clean story, and the NBA Cup championship is a perfect spot to lean into stars playing like it matters, especially when using their latest offers. Monitor any late lineup surprises, then use these top DFS plays as your foundation.

All Higher/Lower Projections as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Dec. 16