Celtics get decent draw in NBA Cup

Next season, the Celtics will play in the Emirates NBA Cup, which has been rebranded, against one of the weaker teams in the Eastern Conference. For the second annual in-season competition on Friday night, the league revealed all six groups, each with five teams.

The Celtics will play four Tuesdays (Nov. 12, 19, and 26 and Dec. 3) and three Fridays (Nov. 15, 22, and 29) in November and December in Group C of the Eastern Conference against the Bulls, Hawks, Cavaliers, and Wizards in Group Play games.

During the group stage, each team will play one game against its four group opponents. The winners of each group, along with one wildcard team from each conference, will advance to the quarterfinals in December.

For the second year in a row, the semifinals and championship will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with eight teams moving on to the quarterfinals.
Last year, the Celtics made it to the quarterfinals of the in-season tournament before losing to the Pacers on the road.

After undergoing offseason leg surgery, Boston’s starting center Kristaps Porzingis is projected to be out until at least December, meaning the team would likely miss the entire tournament.

Within Group C, the Cavaliers should pose a serious threat to Boston; however, the Bulls and Wizards are not anticipated to make the playoffs, and the Hawks, who traded for Dejounte Murray, are a likely contender in the East next season. The whole groupings for each conference are shown here.

East A: Hornets, Knicks, Magic, 76ers, and Nets

Bucks, Pacers, Heat, Raptors, and Pistons are in East B.

East C: Wizards, Hawks, Hawks, Bulls, and Celtics

West A: Rockets, Blazers, Kings, Wolves, Clippers, and Kings

West B: Spurs, Jazz, Lakers, Thunder, Suns

West C: Grizzlies, Warriors, Pelicans, Mavericks, and Nuggets

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