Boston Celtics Eliminated from 2024 NBA Cup After Group Play Tiebreakers

The Boston Celtics have been eliminated from the 2024 NBA Cup following a series of results that did not favor their bid for the knockout stage. To advance, Boston needed a combination of outcomes, including a Magic win over the Knicks or a massive Knicks victory, and specific results from the Bucks-Pistons game. While Milwaukee secured a convincing win over Detroit, Orlando’s loss to New York sealed Boston’s fate.

In East Group A, the New York Knicks clinched the top spot with an undefeated 4-0 record, while the Magic secured the Eastern Conference wild card thanks to their superior point differential. The Celtics, despite finishing 3-1 in East Group C, lost the tiebreaker to the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated them earlier in the group stage. These outcomes ended Boston's NBA Cup hopes and solidified their early exit from the tournament.

The NBA Cup knockout round will proceed without the Celtics, set to begin on Dec. 10. Meanwhile, Boston will focus on their regular-season schedule, with two additional games set for Dec. 12 or 13 and Dec. 15 or 16, though details on opponents and locations are yet to be finalized.