ⓒ NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics have been eliminated from the 2024 NBA Cup after the Orlando Magic’s loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday. The Celtics required either a Magic victory or an overwhelming Knicks win (by 38+ points) to secure a wildcard spot. While the Milwaukee Bucks fulfilled their part of the equation by defeating the Detroit Pistons, the Magic’s defeat sealed the Celtics’ fate.
The New York Knicks clinched first place in East Group A with a flawless 4-0 record. The Orlando Magic secured the Eastern Conference wildcard berth due to a superior point differential (+45). Despite a 3-1 record, the Celtics lost out on the tiebreaker to the Atlanta Hawks, who defeated them earlier in the season.
The NBA Cup knockout stage commences on December 10th, without the Celtics’ participation. To compensate, the Celtics will add two regular-season games to their schedule, one on either December 12th or 13th, and another on December 15th or 16th. Opponents and locations remain unconfirmed. Their next game is against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
