NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 11: Adam Silver, Commissioner, National Basketball Association speaks … More
The Boston Celtics dispatched the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at TD Garden. After a taxing 4-1 series, the reigning NBA champions earned nearly a week of needed rest before round 2.
They’ll await the winner of the first-round series between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. The former, who returned home after taking both games in the Motor City, had a chance to join the Celtics in punching their ticket to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
However, Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden didn’t go as the Knicks envisioned. With 2:57 left and New York trailing 97-95, the hosts subbed out Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart due to injuries. Not wanting to burn their final timeout, the two watched as an extended run without a stoppage in play unfolded.
When they finally returned, 27 seconds remained, and the Pistons had seized a 103-97 lead. A pair of Cade Cunningham free throws with 5.1 seconds left sealed a 106-103 win for the visitors.
Cunningham registered 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Ausar Thompson provided 22 points and stellar defense, while Tobias Harris scored 17. Including regular season contests, Detroit is now 4-1 at the world’s most famous arena in the 2024-25 campaign.
But the Pistons have lost nine-straight home games in the playoffs, dating back to 2008. Interestingly enough, whether they snap that streak on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena has no bearing on when the winner of this series will start their second-round matchup vs. Boston.
The NBA may miss out on a weekend playoff game
If a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden is required to determine who advances, it will take place on Saturday. Even if the Knicks end this series with a third consecutive victory in Detroit, round 2 against the Celtics won’t start until Monday.
That creates the possibility the NBA misses out on a weekend playoff game. That’s a significant change in course from a year ago when the league took the opposite approach.
If the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers rally from 3-1 series deficits, New York wins Game 6, and the Denver Nuggets eliminate the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday, the NBA would either have to flex a matchup to Saturday or accept a weekend date without a playoff contest.
As for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers, who have booked their ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals, the schedule calls for their best-of-seven to start on Sunday in Cleveland.
Here’s a look at the NBA playoff schedules for the series’ for the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, courtesy of Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
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