The Boston Celtics have been officially eliminated from the 2024 NBA Cup, marking the end of their hopes to advance to the tournament’s knockout stage. This disappointment came after a series of requirements needed to fall into place for the Celtics to clinch a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics needed the Orlando Magic to either defeat the New York Knicks or for the Knicks to win by a margin of 38 or more points. Additionally, they required the Milwaukee Bucks to win against the Detroit Pistons by a minimum of six points or for the Pistons to win by at least seven.
While the Bucks delivered with a solid 128-107 victory over the Pistons, the Celtics were let down by the Magic’s performance, who fell to the Knicks with a score of 121-106. Consequently, the Knicks secured the top position in East Group A with an unblemished 4-0 record in group play. The Magic, due to a tiebreaker, clinched the Eastern wild card with a significant +45 point differential. Although the Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks ended with the best records in East Group C at 3-1, the Hawks advanced thanks to their head-to-head win over Boston on November 12.
Moving forward, the NBA Cup will progress without the Celtics as the knockout rounds commence on December 10. However, the Celtics are set to return to regular-season play shortly, with two additional games added to their schedule. They will soon face the Pistons on Wednesday evening, with the game scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.
In light of this setback, Celtics fans have reason to remain optimistic. The team will have a chance to regroup and refocus in the upcoming regular-season games. With their solid roster and dedicated fan base, brighter days are ahead as they aim for a successful second half of the season.