Earthquake within the NBA Cup: the Cavaliers, eradicated and the Celtics, on the ahead facet | Basketball | Sports | EUROtoday

The Cleveland Cavaliers have proven themselves to be the fittest group within the NBA at first of the season. They have received 17 of the 20 common season video games they’ve performed. However, within the NBA Cup, whose video games additionally depend for the league, they’ve suffered two defeats in three video games. After dropping in opposition to the Celtics final week, this Friday they bent the knee in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks, one other of the surprises of the course. With this, they’re eradicated within the group stage of the brand new competitors, which is in its second version this yr. The Hawks’ victory locations them first within the group and leaves the Boston Celtics on the high. They depend upon the outcomes of two video games subsequent Tuesday to keep away from being omitted of the title playoffs once more.

The Hawks appeared like a pure visitor in a bunch during which the Celtics and the Cavaliers have been set to struggle for first place. However, they prompted a shock on the primary day of the group stage by profitable on the TD Garden in Boston by a single level. They additionally beat the weak Washington Wizards, however misplaced in opposition to the Chicago Bulls, so all the pieces was at stake this Friday in Atlanta in opposition to the Cavaliers.

After a really shut first half, they escaped within the third quarter on a foul day for Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland’s star, who solely added 12 factors. On the native facet, De’Andre Hunter, Trae Young and Jalen Johnson surpassed 20 factors. The contribution of the French rookie Zaccharie Risacher, primary within the draft, who has discovered a spot within the beginning 5, and the rebounding energy of the Swiss Clint Capela and the Nigerian-American Onyeka Okongwu allowed the younger Atlanta group to win comfortably (117-101 ).

With their victory, the Hawks not solely eradicated Cleveland, but in addition put the Celtics on the ropes. Those from Boston started their recreation in Chicago figuring out that, as a result of tiebreaker guidelines, they may not be first within the group. Their hope was a crushing victory in opposition to the Bulls to qualify for the very best second place within the three teams within the East (the primary within the three teams of every Conference and the very best second qualify for the quarterfinals of the Cup). However, they suffered till the top.

Despite the spectacular recreation of Jayson Tatum (35 factors, 14 rebounds and 5 assists) and Payton Pritchard (29 factors and seven rebounds), the Celtics and the Bulls reached the ultimate quarter tied, thanks largely to veteran Nikola Vučević (32 factors, together with 6 of 9 three-pointers). The Celtics imposed their high quality and expertise, however nonetheless solely had a 5-point margin with 14 seconds remaining. Two free throws and a triple on the buzzer allowed them to win 129-138, however it isn’t clear that that will likely be sufficient for them.

A sophisticated mixture

On the opposite fields, in a day filled with video games, the Orlando Magic beat the Brooklyn Nets at residence 100-123 and the Detroit Pistons defeated the Pacers in Indiana 106-130, each rising their qualification aspirations.

With these outcomes, it is time to get out the calculator. The Celtics have accomplished their 4 group stage video games with three wins and one loss and a degree distinction in favor of 23 factors. They are second in group C of the East. However, there are two undefeated groups in each teams A and B that face one another on Tuesday to be the primary within the group and have an excellent probability of knocking out the Celtics.

In group A, the Orlando Magic have a distinction of 60 factors in favor and the New York Knicks, 15, so within the duel between the 2, a victory for the Knicks, who play at residence on the final day, would depart the Celtics out. And, in group B, the Detroit Pistons (with three wins, zero losses and a 30-point distinction in favor) obtain the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday (additionally with three wins and a distinction of 29 factors), who’ve recomposed of their disaster at first of the season, so a detailed victory for both of them would additionally condemn Boston. The Celtics should see on tv what destiny has in retailer for them. They have an advanced mixture.

The Lakers, additionally eradicated

In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets have shocked and secured first place in group A. The Golden State Warriors have certified in group C as first. Along the best way, the Denver Nuggets of Nikola Jokić, the Minnesota Timberwolves of Anthony Edwards and the Lakers of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, champions of the primary version of the match, have already been left in apply. Those from Los Angeles have been omitted this Friday after falling at residence 93-101 in opposition to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a recreation during which Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led his group to victory with 36 factors, 9 assists and 6 rebounds .

The first place in group B will likely be selected Tuesday within the Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder-Utah Jazz video games. If the Spurs win at residence, they are going to be first within the group, it doesn’t matter what occurs in one other recreation, but when the Suns win, the Thunder will be capable of qualify simply by beating Utah, the weakest within the group.

For the place of finest second of the three teams within the West, those that have it finest are Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks, who with two wins and one loss accumulate a distinction in favor of 41 factors. They host the Memphis Grizzlies at residence and a victory would nearly assure them qualification.

The quarterfinals are performed on December 10 and 11; The two semifinals will likely be in Las Vegas, on December 14, and the ultimate will likely be held there, on December 17. From there’ll come the second winner of the NBA Cup.