Boston, Massachusetts – The Boston Celtics are on the cusp of advancing in the NBA Cup, but their fate hangs in the balance as they await the results of pivotal games on Tuesday night. Following a triumphant victory over the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics finished pool play with a 3-1 record in Group C, tying for first place with the Hawks. However, the tiebreaker went to the Hawks due to a head-to-head matchup win, securing their spot in the knockout round as Group C winners.
Despite this setback, the Celtics remain hopeful for a wildcard entry into the Eastern Conference. Their advancement will be determined by point differentials, a scenario reminiscent of their journey to the quarterfinals in the previous season. The Celtics will not be in action on the final night of pool play, placing their destiny in the hands of outcomes from other games.
For the Celtics to secure a wildcard spot, two specific scenarios must play out in their favor. Either the Magic defeat the Knicks and the Bucks defeat the Pistons by a margin of at least five points, or the Magic defeat the Knicks and the Pistons defeat the Bucks by at least six points. As the Celtics anxiously await their fate, the current standing of teams vying for wildcard spots include the Magic, Bucks, Pistons, Knicks, and the Celtics themselves.
In evaluating the matchups on Tuesday night, the Celtics’ hopes hinge heavily on the outcomes of the Magic-Knicks game and the Bucks-Pistons game. The Magic’s dominant point differential provides them with a significant advantage, making a potential loss to the Knicks less detrimental to their wildcard chances. On the other hand, a tight win between the Bucks and Pistons could spell trouble for the Celtics, necessitating a larger margin of victory for either team to bolster Boston’s wildcard bid.
Though the Celtics missed an opportunity to enhance their playoff prospects with a more substantial win over the Bulls, their victory keeps them in contention. As they eagerly await the results on Tuesday night, the Celtics remain optimistic that favorable outcomes in key games will propel them into the knockout round of the NBA Cup.