On the final day of group play in the inaugural NBA in-season tournament, the Boston Celtics took care of business with a big win over the Chicago Bulls. The Celtics needed a blowout win to advance, and they delivered with a 124-97 victory, propelling them past the Orlando Magic in the standings.
The night also saw dramatic finishes in other group play games, as teams battled for a spot in the upcoming quarterfinals. The Milwaukee Bucks secured their spot with a win over the Miami Heat, while the New York Knicks clinched the East wild-card with a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Sacramento Kings pulled off a thrilling comeback victory over the Golden State Warriors to claim the top spot in their group, while the New Orleans Pelicans clinched their group with a win over the Houston Rockets.
The final standings were released, with eight teams earning spots in the upcoming quarterfinals. The Celtics, Pacers, Lakers, Knicks, Suns, Pelicans, Bucks, and Kings are all set for the next round. The quarterfinals will be played on December 4th and 5th at the higher seeds’ home arenas, with the semifinals and finals scheduled for December 7th and 9th in Las Vegas.
The tournament has provided plenty of drama and excitement, and the upcoming knockout rounds are sure to bring even more thrilling moments. All games except for the championship match will count toward regular-season records, with a $500,000 payout going to every player and coach on the winning team, and all quarterfinal teams guaranteed payouts of at least $50,000.