The NBA In-Season Tournament has moved into the knockout rounds, with eight teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, and Boston Celtics, advancing. The Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo's 33 points and Damian Lillard's 32, defeated Miami 131-124, securing the East Group B crown with a 4-0 record. This victory has also secured them the top Eastern Conference seed in the fight to reach next month's semi-finals in Las Vegas.
The other teams that have advanced to the knockout rounds include the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, and Sacramento Kings. The knockout round will begin next week with single-elimination quarterfinal games. The winners of these games will advance to the tournament semi-finals.
The quarterfinals and semi-finals will be played in home markets, while the championship will be held in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena. It's important to note that games played in the quarterfinals and semi-finals will count as regular season games, while the championship will not count towards regular season records and stats.
The NBA has introduced a new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup, which will be awarded to the last team standing. Additionally, each player on the winning team will receive a $500,000 bonus. The NBA hopes that the introduction of the in-season tournament will increase fan interest and television viewership.