Orlando Beats Boston for East Wildcard, Meets Milwaukee in KO Round Quarters
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Dec 2024
Despite losing its last game to New York Knicks for Group A honors, the Orlando Magic still advanced to the KO quarterfinal round of the Emirates NBA Cup by virtue of superior points differential over Group C runner up Boston Celtics.
Starting the day with a plus 60 points differential, the Magic lost to the Knicks by fifteen, 121-106 to emerge with a final points differential of plus 45 which is better than Boston's plus 23.
The Magic had to lose by 37 points or more for Boston to advance and that was a possibility when the Knicks led by 37 in the third quarter. However, Orlando rallied in the last quarter to cut the margin to what it was in the final buzzer.
Taking advantage of the absence of Magic All-Stars Paolo Banchero, the Knicks immediately raced to huge leads and threatened to break the game wide open up to the third quarter through the hot shooting of Karl Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
However, as in the recent games, the versatile Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz and Jalen Sugg helped carry the cause of the Magic though the Knicks lead proved too huge to overcome given the remaining time.
The Magic will play Group B winner Milwaukee Bucks in their KO round in Milwaukee.
In the meeting of unbeatens, Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 128-107 with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combining for 55 points.
Meanwhile, the Knicks, the Group A winner will host Group C winner Atlanta Hawks in their own KO quarterfinal round. The Hawks edged Boston in the Cup group play opener.
The winners of the KO round will meet to determine the Eastern Conference top team to play the Western Conference top team to crown the Emirates NBA Cup champion in the Finals set in Las Vegas on December 17.
The group stage and the KO round games count in the regular season standing in the East led by the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3).
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50”
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot
Fri, 17 Oct 2025DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Thu, 16 Oct 2025PR Run - Break Your Record on Oct. 19
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 16 Oct 2025PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
Wed, 15 Oct 2025JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025