Can defending NBA champions Boston Celtics qualify for NBA Cup quarterfinals? Understanding Wild Card rule
The Boston Celtics’ 117-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 12 proved crucial. Both teams ended the Emirates NBA Cup group play with identical 3-1 records, but Atlanta earned a quarterfinal slot because of the win. Boston can still punch a ticket to the next round as the Eastern Conference wildcard team.
Per the NBA Cup 101, the Wild Card winner is “the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group.” The Celtics are in second spot in Group C, but the second placers for Groups A and B are yet to be decided.
In Group A, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks, both with 3-0 records, battle on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden. The Milwaukee Bucks will travel to face the Detroit Pistons on the same day for the winner of Group B.
The tiebreaker for the Wild Card is as follows among second-placed teams in group play of each conference:
- Point differential in group play
- Most points scored in group play
- Regular season record from the 2023-24 campaign
The Boston Celtics scored 482 points and gave up 459 for a +23 point differential. The figures from the second-placed teams in Group A and B will be finalized after their games on Tuesday.
"Celtics Lab" podcaster Cameron Tabatabaie gave the scenario where the Celtics punch a quarterfinal ticket in a post on X/Twitter:
"Celtics need Orlando to win outright (or the Knicks to win by 37+)
"AND
"They need the winner of Pistons/Bucks to win by 5/6+
"If both these things happen, Boston advances"
Boston Celtics nail crucial 138-129 road win over Chicago Bulls on Friday
With their NBA Cup campaign on the line, the C's came through with a 138-129 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. The 2024 NBA champs erupted for 42 points in the fourth quarter to pull off the victory on the road.
Celtic Nation can thank Payton Pritchard, who came off the bench to score 29 points, including 19 in the final period. Jayson Tatum had 35 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block while Derrick White and Jrue Holiday combined for 27 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
A loss would have meant elimination from the NBA Cup.