This will be fun. The NBA crowns its In-Season Tournament champion this week, and it’s going to be quick, too, because there will be no seven-game series involved. It is a “win and you’re in the next round” scheme that is surely going to grab our attention.
Dec. 4: Boston Celtics at Indiana Pacers
The Boston Celtics will face an Indiana squad that won all four of their “Group Play” games. Even if the Celtics have the better record in the regular standings, they still have to watch out for the Pacers who will be playing at home. All it takes is one good game in a single-elimination setting.
Tyrese Haliburton was SPECIAL in In-Season Tournament Group Play 🔥
👀 his best moments before the Pacers battle the Celtics in the Quarterfinals on Monday (7:30pm/et on TNT) pic.twitter.com/RjkmMJn3Gb
— NBA (@NBA) December 2, 2023
Dec. 4: New Orleans Pelicans at Sacramento Kings
All the buzz in this game will be about how the Kings qualified to reach the Knockout Rounds. In one of the best games of the season so far, the Kings had to overcome a 24-point deficit against the mighty Golden State Warriors to get here. Now, they will face the Pelicans who just got CJ McCollum back from injury.
Unreal comeback from the Kings 🤯
(via @buckets) pic.twitter.com/4I9EPdNGkO
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 29, 2023
Dec. 5: New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
Robin Lopez, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis will be hosting their former team when the Knicks visit Wisconsin. It will also be a homecoming for New York’s Donte DiVincenzo who previously played for the Bucks. The excitement level, of course, gets turned up a notch because of what’s at stake. A win in this game gets you a spot in the NBA Cup’s “Final Four” stage.
Giannis (33) and Dame (32) combine for 65 PTS as the Bucks win Group B 🦌
They will face the Knicks in the knockout round 🍿 pic.twitter.com/yqxH8B8hhO
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 29, 2023
Dec. 5: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers
This becomes an extra Suns-Lakers game for us. Originally scheduled to meet four times during the regular season, the In-Season Tournament just gifted us with one more game between the two teams. This season, the Lakers won the first meeting by five and the second meeting by three. Any guesses how this one will go? We will have to tune in and find out.
The Suns will face the Lakers in Los Angeles in the NBA In-Season Tournament’s quarterfinals.
Call it now: who you got? 👀 pic.twitter.com/NlHShoXem8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 29, 2023
Dec. 7 and 9: Last Two Days of In-Season Tournament
The four remaining teams will head to Las Vegas where the NBA Cup champion will be determined. This gives off a vibe similar to the NCAA’s Final Four where teams will be playing at a neutral site. Whether we liked or hated the idea of this In-Season Tournament, we have to admit that these games added an “early excitement” feel to the season. Now, we are eager to see who wins it all.
The final NBA In-Season Tournament West Group Play Standings ‼️
Lakers (#1 Seed), Kings (#2), Pelicans (#3), and Suns (#4) advance to the Knockout Rounds 👀
Knockout Rounds begin Monday, 12/4 and Tuesday, 12/5 on TNT 🏆 pic.twitter.com/tEPvkgW4fV
— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2023
