NBA Daily Rewind
Hosted by Big Dill
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: NBA news from the past day. Cover any NBA games, highlights or news.
Transcript
Welcome back to Big Dill Sports, where we're diving into everything basketball. I'm Dillon, your host, and today we're unpacking yesterday's NBA action from December 17, 2025. Buckle up, because there's a lot to cover, from the thrilling climax of the NBA Cup to standout performances in regular-season matchups.
Let's start with the big one—the NBA Cup final. The New York Knicks claimed their first-ever NBA Cup title, overpowering a strong San Antonio Spurs team, 124 to 113. The game heated up in the fourth quarter when the Knicks turned on the jets with a 35-19 run. OG Anunoby was on fire, leading the charge with 28 points and nine rebounds. Jalen Brunson, who bagged the tournament MVP, added another layer of brilliance with 25 points and eight assists.
The Knicks pulled off this win thanks to sheer team effort. They dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Spurs 59 to 42. It was a tough night for San Antonio despite strong showings from Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama. Coach Mike Brown praised his squad for their depth and determination, and each Knick walked away with an extra chunk of change in prize money—a sweet bonus to the well-deserved victory.
Moving on to Chicago, the Bulls snapped their losing streak with a decisive 127-111 win over the Cavaliers. Leading the charge was Josh Giddey, who registered his sixth triple-double of the season. Giddey racked up 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. Coby White also shone brightly with 25 points, nailing ten out of ten free throws. The Bulls’ balanced attack and defensive pressure turned the tables after being down by 12 points early on.
In Memphis, it was Jaren Jackson Jr.'s night as the Grizzlies battled back to edge the Timberwolves 116-110. Jackson delivered a standout performance with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Jock Landale played a crucial supporting role with 20 points and ten boards. The Grizzlies orchestrated a pivotal 14-0 run in the third quarter to swing the momentum in their favor, overcoming a deficit and sealing the win.
On the injury front, there were some notable absences. Karl-Anthony Towns showed grit playing through a calf strain for the Knicks. The Grizzlies were missing Ja Morant due to an ankle issue and Cam Spencer for personal reasons, although Brandon Clarke made a return post-knee surgery. For the Timberwolves, the absence of Anthony Edwards was felt as they pushed through without their star player.
Now, it’s time for our "big dill" of the episode—Josh Giddey! With his impressive triple-double performance, he was a key reason the Bulls turned their fortunes around against the Cavs. He’s proving to be a cornerstone player, and seeing him in action last night, there's no doubt he's making waves in the league.
As we look ahead, the Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers, hoping to carry their momentum forward. The Bulls revisit Cleveland for the series finale, while the Grizzlies return home to meet Washington. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, will try to recuperate as they prepare to welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That's a wrap for today's NBA Daily Rewind on Big Dill Sports. Thanks for joining me, Dillon, as we break down the latest and greatest from the basketball world. Don’t miss tomorrow's episode for more action and analysis. Keep it dill, everyone!
## Yesterday’s NBA Highlights (December 17, 2025)
Yesterday’s slate featured the culmination of the NBA’s in-season tournament with the NBA Cup final in Las Vegas, as well as several regular-season matchups across the league. In Las Vegas, the New York Knicks rallied past the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 to claim their first NBA Cup title, overcoming a Victor Wembanyama–led Spurs squad and earning tournament MVP honors for Jalen Brunson ([thescore.com](https://www.thescore.com/nba/events/2460496/RECAP?utm_source=openai)). On the regular-season front, the Chicago Bulls snapped a skid as Josh Giddey recorded his sixth triple-double of the year (23 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast) in a 127-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/josh-giddey-registers-triple-double-bulls-best-cavaliers--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)), while the Memphis Grizzlies got a 28-point, 12-rebound night from Jaren Jackson Jr. to edge the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-110 ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jaren-jackson-jr-goes-28-grizzlies-take-down-timberwolves--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)).
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## NBA Cup Final: Knicks 124, Spurs 113
On Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena, the Knicks trailed by as many as 11 in the third quarter before mounting a decisive 35-19 fourth-quarter surge to capture the 2025 NBA Cup. OG Anunoby led New York with a game-high 28 points (5 3PM) and nine rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 25 points and eight assists en route to being named tournament MVP ([nba.com](https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-dec-17-2025?utm_source=openai)).
• Key Knicks contributors:
– OG Anunoby: 28 pts, 9 reb (5 3PM)
– Jalen Brunson (Cup MVP): 25 pts, 8 ast
– Karl-Anthony Towns: 16 pts, 11 reb (battled calf strain)
– Mitchell Robinson: 15 reb (10 off reb) in 18 min
– Jordan Clarkson: 15 pts (3 3PM)
– Tyler Kolek: 14 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast
• Spurs standouts:
– Dylan Harper: 21 pts
– Victor Wembanyama: 18 pts, 6 reb, 2 blk
– De’Aaron Fox: 16 pts
New York outrebounded San Antonio 59-42 and flipped a 13-1 run bridging the third and fourth quarters into a 100-95 lead it never relinquished. Coach Mike Brown lauded his team’s depth: “Every guy in that locker room is willing to do whatever it takes” ([nba.com](https://www.nba.com/news/starting-5-dec-17-2025?utm_source=openai)). The Knicks each earned an extra $318,560 in prize money, bringing their total to $530,933 for Cup finalists ([thescore.com](https://www.thescore.com/nba/events/2460496/RECAP?utm_source=openai)).
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## Bulls 127, Cavaliers 111: Giddey’s Sixth Triple-Double
In Chicago, the Bulls hosted the Cavaliers and snapped a recent slump with a convincing 127-111 victory. Josh Giddey orchestrated the win with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists—his sixth triple-double of the season—while Coby White poured in 25 points on 56.2% shooting ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/josh-giddey-registers-triple-double-bulls-best-cavaliers--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)).
• Bulls’ balanced scoring:
– Josh Giddey: 23 pts, 11 reb, 11 ast (career-high 5 3PM)
– Coby White: 25 pts (10-for-10 FT)
– Nikola Vucevic: 20 pts, 9 reb
– Tre Jones: 11 pts, 11 ast
• Cavaliers leaders:
– Donovan Mitchell: 32 pts (game-high)
– Jaylon Tyson: 21 pts
– Darius Garland: 15 pts
After trailing by 12 in the first half, Chicago shot 56.2% for the game and dished 35 assists on 50 buckets. The Bulls overturned the deficit with a balanced attack and defensive pressure, scoring 21 points off Cavaliers’ 20 turnovers. Chicago improved to 11-15, while Cleveland slipped to 15-13 and has lost seven of its last ten ([espn.com.sg](https://www.espn.com.sg/nba/game/_/gameId/401810222/cavaliers-bulls?utm_source=openai)).
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## Grizzlies 116, Timberwolves 110: Jackson Jr. Leads Charge
In Minneapolis, the Grizzlies rallied from a nine-point third-quarter hole to beat the Timberwolves 116-110. Jaren Jackson Jr. paced Memphis with 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Jock Landale complemented him with 20 points and 10 boards off the bench ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jaren-jackson-jr-goes-28-grizzlies-take-down-timberwolves--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)).
• Memphis key performers:
– Jaren Jackson Jr.: 28 pts, 12 reb
– Jock Landale: 20 pts, 10 reb (4 3PM)
– Jaylen Wells: 17 pts
– Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 12 pts
• Minnesota standouts:
– Julius Randle: 21 pts
– Donte DiVincenzo: 19 pts, 11 reb
– Rudy Gobert: 16 pts, 16 reb
Memphis strung together a pivotal 14-0 run early in the third quarter, erasing a 76-67 deficit. The Wolves, missing Anthony Edwards (foot) and outscored by 9 in the third, could not recover despite late free throws from Naz Reid ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jaren-jackson-jr-goes-28-grizzlies-take-down-timberwolves--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)). The Grizzlies moved to 13-14, while Minnesota fell to 17-10.
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## Injuries & Implications
• Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns played through a calf strain, exiting briefly in the third but returning to anchor the rally ([thescore.com](https://www.thescore.com/nba/events/2460496/RECAP?utm_source=openai)).
• Grizzlies: Ja Morant (ankle) and Cam Spencer (personal) sat out; Brandon Clarke returned from knee surgery ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401810223?utm_source=openai)).
• Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards (right foot) missed his third straight; Minnesota’s depth was tested in Edwards’ absence ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/jaren-jackson-jr-goes-28-grizzlies-take-down-timberwolves--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)).
• Cavaliers: Ayo Dosunmu (thumb) did not play for Chicago; Cleveland’s rotation remains shorthanded ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/josh-giddey-registers-triple-double-bulls-best-cavaliers--flm-2025-12-18/?utm_source=openai)).
Looking ahead, the Knicks hit the road to face the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls travel back to Cleveland for the season series finale, and the Grizzlies return home to host Washington before Minnesota welcomes the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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