NBA roundup: Eastern Conference quarter-finals locked for 2024 NBA Cup
The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks progressed to the knockout stage of the NBA Cup following decisive wins on Tuesday. The Knicks triumphed over the Orlando Magic with a score of 121-106, a result that still allowed the Magic to secure a quarter-final spot.
At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks showcased their dominance, aiming to finish the group stage undefeated and clinch the top position in East Group A. They overpowered a Magic team that entered the game boasting the league's third-best defense.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson contributed 21 points. Mikal Bridges added 19 points, and both OG Anunoby and Miles McBride scored 18 points each. Additionally, Josh Hart recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Franz Wagner was the standout performer for Orlando, scoring 30 points. The Magic were guaranteed advancement as long as they did not lose by 37 points or more.
Despite committing 16 turnovers that resulted in 32 points for the Knicks, the Magic managed to recover from a significant deficit in the third quarter, ultimately securing the East wild card berth based on points differential over the NBA champion Boston Celtics, who also concluded group play with a 3-1 record.
The Magic initially surged to an eight-point lead, but the Knicks, needing a win to advance, responded with an 11-0 scoring run to take a 17-14 lead, finishing the first quarter at 36-27 and maintaining their advantage throughout the game.
In Detroit, the Bucks made 23 three-pointers en route to a 128-107 victory against the Pistons in a clash of East Group B leaders, resulting in the elimination of the home team.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, while Damian Lillard added 27 points. The Bucks have now won seven consecutive games, including a previous matchup against Detroit where Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 59 points.
Antetokounmpo successfully converted 10 of his 11 attempts from the field and did not participate in the entirety of the fourth quarter.
Lillard successfully made five three-point shots and was on the court for only the initial minutes of the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee established dominance early in the game, achieving an impressive shooting percentage of 69.2 in the first half, which included 15 successful three-point attempts out of 21.
"I believed our ball movement was exceptional," stated Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers. "We consistently located open teammates and exhibited unselfish play."
Group stage matches are considered regular-season contests, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, having been eliminated from the Cup, significantly enhanced their league-leading record to 19-3 with a commanding 118-87 win over the Washington Wizards, who suffered their 15th consecutive defeat.
Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell each contributed 19 points for the Cavaliers, who had seven players reach double figures in scoring.
The quarter-finals of the in-season tournament are scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday, with the semi-finals set to take place on December 14 in Las Vegas, culminating in the final on December 17.
SportsLigue