In a crucial game against the Chicago Bulls, the Boston Celtics delivered a lopsided 124-97 victory on Tuesday night, securing their place in the next round of the NBA’s first in-season tournament. To add to their fortune, the Brooklyn Nets also played a pivotal role by defeating the Toronto Raptors 115-103, solidifying the Celtics’ unexpecteԀ triumph in East Group C.

With both Boston and Brooklyn emerging victorious, a three-way tie with the Orlando Magic for the top spot in Group C was formed. However, the Celtics ultimately claimed the edge over the Nets and Magic due to their superior point differential (+27). As a result, the Celtics will face the Indiana Pacers on the road in their knockout stage game, scheduled for either December 4 or 5. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks will host the New York Knicks in the other East matchup.

Entering Tuesday’s games, the odds seemed unfavorable for the Celtics after their defeat to the Magic last Friday. To advance to the quarterfinals, Boston needed to secure a blowout win over the Bulls by a margin of 23 or more points. Additionally, they required the Nets to win by 18 or fewer points once the Celtics’ 27-point victory was secured.

Despite their imminent triumph, the Celtics remained focused on building a substantial lead to inflate their point differential. They kept their starters on the court during the fourth quarter and intentionally fouled the Bulls’ Andre Drummond on consecutive possessions, capitalizing on his poor free-throw shooting to gain additional points.

The Celtics’ commitment to running up the score paid off as they became one of the eight teams advancing to the knockout round of the in-season tournament. The quarterfinals will commence on December 4, featuring the winners of the six groups along with two “wild card” teams determined by the best record among second-place teams in group play.

These eight teams will engage in single-elimination games starting next week, with the semifinals and finals of the tournament set to take place in Las Vegas on December 7 and 9, respectively. The Celtics’ surprising journey in the tournament continues, and fans eagerly await their upcoming matchups as they strive to advance further and vie for the championship.