The Boston Celtics have officially been eliminated from the 2024 NBA Cup, marking a disappointing end to their hopes of progressing to the tournament’s knockout stage. Their chances hinged on several outcomes needing to align in their favor, including a victory by the Orlando Magic over the New York Knicks or a significant win by the Knicks themselves.
While the Milwaukee Bucks successfully defeated the Detroit Pistons 128-107, giving the Celtics part of the needed results, unfortunately, the Magic fell short, losing 121-106 to the Knicks. Consequently, the Knicks topped East Group A with a perfect record of 4-0, and the Magic secured the Eastern wild card spot thanks to their +45 point differential.
Despite the disappointment, the Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks both finished with a strong 3-1 record in East Group C; however, the Hawks claimed the tiebreaker based on their earlier victory against the Celtics on November 12.
With the conclusion of the NBA Cup for Boston, they will have the opportunity to regroup and focus on the regular season. The Celtics will add two regular-season games to their schedule, with dates set for December 12 or 13, and December 15 or 16.
Next up, the Celtics will face the Pistons on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, as they look to channel their energy into the remaining regular season after this tough tournament exit. This moment presents a chance for the team to refocus and strengthen their strategy as they aim to capitalize on their upcoming games.
In the world of sports, setbacks often serve as a catalyst for future success, and this experience may motivate the Celtics to elevate their performance as they transition back to regular-season play.