The Boston Celtics have officially been eliminated from contention in the 2024 NBA Cup after a disappointing outcome on Tuesday night. Their chances of progressing to the tournament’s knockout stage relied heavily on several outcomes, which did not materialize.
To secure a wild card position in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics needed the Orlando Magic to defeat the New York Knicks or for the Knicks to win by 38 points or more. Additionally, the Celtics depended on the Milwaukee Bucks to win against the Detroit Pistons by six points or for the Pistons to win by seven points. While the Bucks came through with a decisive 128-107 win over the Pistons, the Magic fell short, losing to the Knicks 121-106.
As a result, the Knicks topped East Group A with an unblemished 4-0 record in Group Play. The Magic secured the wild card spot from the East due to a +45 point differential, which served as a tiebreaker. The Celtics, alongside the Atlanta Hawks, ended up with the best record in East Group C at 3-1. However, the Hawks advanced due to their earlier victory over Boston on November 12.
With the Celtics’ elimination from the NBA Cup, they will now prepare for the regular season, which will see them add two games to their schedule: one on December 12 or 13 and another on December 15 or 16, with details about locations and opponents still to be determined. The Celtics’ next game is set for Wednesday night against the Pistons, with a tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Despite this setback, the Celtics can refocus and take the opportunity to build momentum as they transition back to regular season play. Their upcoming games may serve as pivotal moments for the team to regroup and enhance their performance.
In summary, while the Celtics face disappointment in the NBA Cup, they have the chance to come out stronger in the regular season games ahead.