The Atlanta Hawks’ dominant 117-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Cup on Friday resulted in significant implications for several teams in the tournament.
The Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and last year’s NBA Cup runners-up, the Indiana Pacers, were all eliminated from group play following the Hawks’ impressive performance, which improved their record to 3-1 and secured first place in East Group C.
Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Indiana were ousted from the competition after suffering defeats on Friday, while Miami’s win was in vain as both the Hawks and Detroit Pistons emerged victorious. The Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks, both boasting a 3-0 record, will battle it out to determine the winner of East Group B in their upcoming matchup on Tuesday.
De’Andre Hunter led the charge for the Hawks with 23 points off the bench, closely followed by Trae Young with 20 points and 11 assists. Jalen Johnson put up an impressive performance with 20 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Clint Capela dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, while Dyson Daniels showcased his defensive prowess with three steals.
Cleveland received solid contributions from Darius Garland, who scored 29 points (including 5-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc), and Evan Mobley, who added 24 points and 13 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell chipped in with 11 points but struggled from the field, shooting 5-for-23, while also grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out six assists.
Defending champion Lakers fighting for survival
The Los Angeles Lakers, reigning champions of the inaugural in-season tournament, faced a tough challenge against the Oklahoma City Thunder, falling 101-93 and now find themselves on the verge of elimination in Group B. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stole the show with a stellar 36-point performance, while Isaiah Hartenstein dominated the boards with a season-high 17 rebounds.
The Lakers’ defeat leaves them in a precarious position at 2-2, while the Thunder stand strong at 2-1. The Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs both hold a 1-1 record, with favorable point differentials. The Lakers, on the other hand, are struggling with a point differential of minus-24, a concerning factor as point differential serves as the second tiebreaker after head-to-head record.
With no more games remaining, the Lakers are in need of external assistance to progress to the next stage of the tournament.
Celtics secure vital win in East Group C
The Boston Celtics kept their hopes alive in group play with a hard-fought 138-129 victory over the Chicago Bulls. A loss would have spelled elimination for the Celtics, along with Detroit, Atlanta, the New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic securing wins.
Jayson Tatum led the charge for the Celtics with a stellar performance, tallying 35 points (including 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc) and 14 rebounds. Peyton Pritchard made a significant impact off the bench with 29 points and seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis also contributed with 21 points each.
The Bulls were led by Nikola Vučević, who put up 32 points (shooting an impressive 6-for-9 from 3-point range) and grabbed 11 rebounds. Zach LaVine added 29 points to the scoreboard, with Josh Giddey dishing out nine assists.
Boston had the opportunity to clinch the top spot in East Group C with a win combined with a Hawks’ loss. Similarly, Chicago could have secured the top position by defeating the Celtics alongside a loss for the Cavaliers. However, neither scenario materialized.
Knicks maintain perfect record in group play
The Charlotte Hornets’ hopes in the NBA Cup group play were dashed following a narrow 99-98 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday.
Charlotte’s efforts were led by Brandon Miller’s 20 points, supported by Josh Green’s 15 points. Tidjane Salaün and Moussa Diabaté also made significant contributions with 14 points and eight rebounds, and 11 rebounds, respectively.
The absence of LaMelo Ball, who missed the game due to illness, was deeply felt by the Hornets. Ball’s scoring prowess, averaging 31.1 points per game, could have potentially made a difference in the closely contested one-point game.
Jalen Brunson shined for the Knicks with 31 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Karl-Anthony Towns contributed with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Josh Hart added 13 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Miles McBride provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.