The Celtics’ 123-110 loss to the Magic was not only devastating because of the way that it happened, but also because of what it means for their hopes of hoisting the NBA Cup.
Sure, they had a one-point lead with just under six minutes to play and then let up a 28-14 run to finish the game, but they all but erased any shot of making a deep run in this tournament.
What makes the NBA Cup so interesting is that it’s extremely difficult to win for the amount of clout that comes with it.