Celtics add two games to upcoming schedule after exiting NBA Cup

The Celtics add two games to upcoming schedule after NBA Cup exit originally featured on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ fight for the NBA Cup will have to wait until next year.

The Celtics were eliminated from the league’s second annual tournament this season on Tuesday night because they missed a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The C’s finished second in Group C of the 2024 NBA Cup with a record of 3-1 and a +23 point advantage, but the Orlando Magic advanced as the East wild card by winning the tiebreaker with the point difference at +45 won.

What happens to Boston now? Any team that does not advance to the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup will have two games added to their regular season schedule – one home and one away. Here are the Celtics’ two games (both airing on NBC Sports Boston):

• Thursday, December 12th: Celtics vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Sunday December 15th: Celtics at Wizards at 6 p.m. ET

If you’re looking for a silver lining, the Celtics’ failure to advance in the NBA Cup means they’ll have a decent break over the next two weeks, after a grueling stretch of five games in seven days that ended with a encounter began. back against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat last Sunday and Monday.

Here’s a look at Boston’s schedule through Dec. 19 (all games on NBC Sports Boston):

• Wednesday, December 4th: Celtics vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Friday, December 6th: Celtics vs. Bucks, 7:30 p.m. ET

• Saturday December 7th: Celtics vs. Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET

• Thursday, December 12th: Celtics vs. Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET*

• Sunday December 15th: Celtics at Wizards at 6 p.m. ET*

• Thursday, December 19th: Celtics vs. Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET

*Games added due to NBA Cup elimination.

The Celtics play just three games in 12 days, with four days off after a Saturday night showdown with Marcus Smart and the Grizzlies, then two days off before visiting the Wizards and then three more days off before hosting the Bulls. Five of the next six games will also take place at home.

The C’s would undoubtedly like to play for higher stakes in the knockout rounds of the NBA Cup, which begin with quarterfinal games on December 10th and 11th before advancing to the semifinals (December 14th) and finals (December 17th ) move to Las Vegas). But the next two weeks will provide them with a rare opportunity to recharge as the season begins.