Knockout Rounds Set: NBA In-Season Tournament Advances to Quarterfinals
The group phase of the inaugural In-Season Tournament wrapped up on Tuesday, setting the stage for the upcoming knockout rounds. Eight teams secured spots in the quarterfinals scheduled for Dec. 4 and 5. Following this, the semifinals will unfold on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas, culminating in the championship game on Dec. 9.
In the Eastern Conference bracket, the Milwaukee Bucks will clash against the New York Knicks, while the Indiana Pacers are set to host the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, on the Western Conference side, the Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Phoenix Suns, and the Sacramento Kings will square off against the New Orleans Pelicans.
While these teams compete for the inaugural NBA Cup and a $500,000 prize per player, the other 22 teams, eliminated from the tournament, have their schedules adjusted to accommodate the remaining regular-season games.
The updated schedule for these teams includes matches on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, as follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 6:
- Various matchups throughout the evening, highlighted by San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers on ESPN.
Friday, Dec. 8:
- Additional games featuring the four teams that lose in the quarterfinals, with pairings determined based on Group Play standings, incorporating a formulaic approach outlined by the NBA earlier.
Notably, the Timberwolves seem to benefit from an extra game against bottom-finishing teams like the Spurs and the Grizzlies, potentially bolstering their standing in the Western Conference. On the contrary, the Cavaliers face a tougher situation with extra games against competitive teams like the Magic and Heat, posing challenges due to their relentless style of play. This additional stretch may strain the Cavaliers further amidst what has been a challenging start to their season.
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