New York, NY — The Boston Celtics are stunned and out of the NBA Cup after a tremendous defeat in what has thus become an early dramatic turnaround of the tournament. And with their exit, newcomers New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks have seen it fit to advance to the next round.
In a highly awaited match between two of last season’s final eight playoff teams, the Knicks took their turn and downed the Celtics, 113-98. The Knicks commanded the pace from start to end, utilizing a balanced offense and stout defense to stifle the Celtics throughout the contest. The stops the Celtics made, though, were compounded by the struggles of their two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to find their footing, particularly so in the second half when New York’s defense clamped down.
For the Celtics, this defeat represents a major setback as they have been dominating the games throughout their 2023 championship run in the NBA. The team was not particularly effective with turnovers and missed opportunities-especially at critical moments and had no signs of their accustomed depth of play. Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Celtics said after the loss, “We have to learn from this and refocus. The NBA Cup is important, but our bigger goal is always the playoffs and ultimately the championship.”
The Milwaukee Bucks brought themselves to life through a convincing 120-105 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Moving back to his primal form, he grossed 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, and their defense proved way too tough for the Cavs to handle. Their performance continues to underline that the team is among the best in the league and, thus, preparing for a long ride in the tournament.
Now that the Celtics have been knocked out, both the Knicks and the Bucks now have their doors wide open to be able to shine in the NBA Cup. The Knicks, pumped by their victory over the former champions, are bent on continuing with the streak forward, and the Bucks will make a case for yet another title. As these matches intensify, one will be in for quite intense matches because the teams will clash for the most coveted title- the NBA Cup.
