The Boston Celtics have officially been eliminated from contention for the 2024 NBA Cup following a disappointing turn of events on Tuesday night. The team needed several outcomes to secure their place in the tournament’s knockout stage, including a win by the Orlando Magic over the New York Knicks or a Knicks victory by 38 points or more. They also required a specific result from the Milwaukee Bucks against the Detroit Pistons.
While the Bucks delivered with a solid 128-107 win over the Pistons, the Magic fell short, losing 121-106 to the Knicks. This outcome secured the Knicks a perfect 4-0 record in Group Play and the top spot in East Group A. The Magic, with a +45 point differential, managed to clinch the East wild card. Although the Celtics and Atlanta Hawks finished with identical records in East Group C (3-1), the Hawks gained the tiebreaker after defeating the Celtics earlier this month.
With the Celtics now out of the NBA Cup, they will shift their focus to their regular-season schedule. They are set to play two additional regular-season games on December 12 or 13 and December 15 or 16, with details on opponents and locations yet to be announced. The Celtics’ next game is against the Pistons on Wednesday night, slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston.
In conclusion, while the Celtics may be disappointed by their elimination, this situation could serve as an opportunity for the team to regroup and refocus on the regular season. Their upcoming games could be a chance for the players to demonstrate resilience and build momentum as they aim for a successful remainder of the season.