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The Boston Celtics will not be playing in NBA Cup action on Tuesday night, but their fate still hangs in the balance. Two key games will determine whether the Celtics will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. After their victory over the Bulls on Friday, the Celtics finished group play with a 3-1 record, keeping their wildcard hopes alive. Although the Hawks have already secured a spot in the quarterfinals with a tiebreaker over Boston, the remaining three wildcard spots in the Eastern Conference are still up for grabs.
For the Celtics to move forward, they will need some help. There are two potential scenarios that could allow Boston to advance after Tuesday’s games. If neither of these scenarios occurs, the Celtics will be eliminated from the tournament. Here's a breakdown of the possible paths to the next round and how likely each is to happen.
Scenario 1: Magic Beat Knicks and Celtics Win Tiebreaker
The most realistic path for the Celtics to advance is if the Orlando Magic defeat the New York Knicks, combined with the Celtics winning the point differential tiebreaker against the loser of the Bucks-Pistons game.
Analysis:
This scenario is Boston's best hope. The Celtics have already clinched the tiebreaker over a 3-1 Knicks team due to point differential. In this case, the Bucks or Pistons must win by a specific margin to help the Celtics. If the Bucks win by five points or more, or the Pistons win by six or more, Boston will advance.
Essentially, Celtics fans should be rooting for a comfortable win, whether it’s from the Bucks or Pistons. A close game in either direction would mean the Celtics are eliminated from the NBA Cup.
Scenario 2: Knicks Beat Magic by 37+ Points and Celtics Win Tiebreaker
This scenario, however, is highly unlikely and essentially out of Boston’s control.
Analysis:
In this scenario, New York would need to defeat Orlando by at least 37 points for the Celtics to have a chance. This is an unlikely outcome, especially given New York’s lack of incentive to run up the score, as they would already secure their spot in the knockout round with a win. Moreover, Orlando is on a six-game winning streak, making them one of the hottest teams in the league and unlikely to suffer such a blowout loss.
If the Knicks win by a large margin, however, the Celtics will be eliminated, and they will instead have two consolation games scheduled in the coming weeks.
What Happens if the Celtics Advance?
Should Boston advance as a wildcard, they are likely to face off against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA Cup Knockout Round. The game will most likely take place on Tuesday or Wednesday night next week in Orlando.
In conclusion, for the Celtics to advance, the combination of a Magic victory and specific results from the Bucks-Pistons game is essential. While the second scenario seems nearly impossible, Celtics fans will still hold onto hope as they await the final results of Tuesday's games.
