NBA In-Season Tournament clinching scenarios: Kings move one step closer to Quarterfinals, Magic jump Celtics

Gilbert McGregor

NBA In-Season Tournament clinching scenarios: Kings move one step closer to Quarterfinals, Magic jump Celtics image

The NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament is in full swing. As Group Play winds down, the picture for the Knockout Rounds is beginning to take shape.

As a refresher, the structure of the In-Season Tournament features three groups of five teams in each conference. Eight teams — six group winners and two wild cards — will advance from Group Play to the Knockout Rounds, which will be played in home arenas on Dec. 4 and 5.

With group winners automatically advancing, teams are coming into the opportunity to clinch their spot in the Quarterfinals, moving one step closer to the grand prize of $500,000 per player.

Here is a look at clinching scenarios ahead of the NBA In-Season Tournament's games on Friday, Nov. 24.

MORE: NBA In-Season Tournament standings, results, schedule

NBA In-Season Tournament clinching scenarios 

West Group C

The Timberwolves can clinch West Group C with a win over the Kings. The Kings can clinch West Group C with a win over the Timberwolves and a Warriors loss to the Spurs.

  Team Record Diff
1. Kings 3-0 +29
2. Timberwolves 2-1 -3
3. Warriors 2-2 +5
4. Thunder 1-2 +27
5. Spurs 0-3 -52

Eliminated: Spurs, Thunder

West Group B

The Pelicans are currently in the West Group B lead but due to losing the head-to-head, will only win the group if the Rockets to lose to the Mavericks on Tuesday, Nov. 28

  Team Record Diff
1. Pelicans 3-1 +33
2. Rockets 2-1 +16
3. Nuggets 2-2 -10
4. Mavericks 1-2 -14
5. Clippers 1-3 -25

Eliminated: Clippers, Nuggets, Mavericks

West Group A

The Lakers have clinched West Group A with a perfect 4-0 record in Group Play. Los Angeles has also clinched a home game in the Quarterfinals.

  Team Record Diff.
1. Lakers 4-0 +74
2. Suns 2-1 +13
3. Jazz 2-2 -13
4. Trail Blazers 1-3 -39
5. Grizzlies 0-3 -35

East Group C

The Celtics had an opportunity to clinch East Group C with a win over the Magic. By losing, the Magic move to first place while the Celtics have one In-Season Tournament game remaining.

  Team Record Diff
1. Magic 3-1 +22
2. Celtics 2-1 0
3. Nets 2-1 +8
4. Bulls 0-2 -8
5. Raptors 0-2 -22

East Group A

The Pacers have clinched East Group A and a home game in the Quarterfinals with a perfect 4-0 record in Group Play. They will face an Eastern Conference Wild Card team.

  Team Record Diff
1. Pacers 4-0 +39
2. Cavaliers 2-1 +6
3. 76ers 2-2 +9
4. Hawks 1-2 -9
5. Pistons 0-4 -45

NBA In-Season Tournament standings

East Group B

The Bucks have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Knicks. They will play the Heat on Tuesday, Nov. 28.

  Team Record Diff
1. Bucks 3-0 +36
2. Knicks 2-1 +18
3. Heat 2-1 +11
4. Hornets 1-2 -30
5. Wizards 0-3 -35

Eliminated: Wizards

NBA In-Season Tournament Wild Card standings

Within group play, point differential and head-to-head tiebreakers are crucial. For those that fail to win their respective group, point differential is doubly important as it could make or break a team's opportunity to advance to the Quarterfinals as a Wild Card.

Here's a look at where things stand entering games on Friday, Nov. 24:

Western Conference

West Leaders

  1. Lakers, 4-0 (+74)*
  2. Kings, 3-0 (+29)
  3. Pelicans, 3-1 (+33)

Wild Card standings 

  Team Record Diff
4. Suns 3-1 +34
5. Rockets 2-1 +16
6. Warriors 2-1 +5
7. Timberwolves 2-1 -3
8. Nuggets 2-2 -10
9. Jazz 2-2 -13
10. Thunder 1-2 +27
11. Mavericks 1-2 -14
12. Clippers 1-3 -25
13. Trail Blazers 1-3 -39
14. Grizzlies 0-3 -35
15. Spurs 0-3 -52

Eliminated: Trail Blazers, Grizzlies, Spurs, Nuggets, Clippers, Mavericks

East Leaders

  1. Pacers, 4-0 (+39)*
  2. Bucks, 3-0 (+39)
  3. Magic, 3-1 (+22)

Wild Card standings

  Team Record Diff
4. Knicks 2-1 +18
5. Heat 2-1 +11
6. Nets 2-1 +8
7. Cavaliers 2-1 +6
8. Celtics 2-1 0
9. 76ers 2-2 +9
10. Hawks 1-2 -9
11. Raptors 1-2 -9
12. Hornets 1-2 -30
13. Bulls 0-3 -21
14. Pistons 0-3 -22
15. Wizards 0-3 -35

Eliminated: Pistons, Wizards, Raptors, Bulls

NBA In-Season Tournament dates

  • Start date: Nov. 3, 2023
  • End date: Dec. 9, 2023

The In-Season Tournament begins on Nov. 3. The Knockout Rounds will be played in early December, with the semifinals scheduled for Dec. 7 and the championship game scheduled for Dec. 9.

The semifinals and championship game will be played at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

How to watch NBA In-Season Tournament

  • TV channels: ESPN | TNT | NBA TV
  • Live streams: NBA League Pass | Fubo | Sling TV

A selection of In-Season Tournament games will be broadcast on ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. The games not on national TV will be available on NBA League Pass. (There are some blackout restrictions.)

NBA League Pass service offers three different packages, but you can give NBA League Pass a test run on a free seven-day trial before making a full commitment.

You can also watch games on ESPN and ABC with Fubo, which is offering a free seven-day trial. You can add NBA League Pass as part of your free trial period and get the service for as low as $14.99 a month with Fubo, unlocking every out-of-market game. NBA TV is available for an extra $11 per month with the Sports Plus add-on.

Another streaming option is Sling TV, which offers ESPN and TNT.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2023-24 NBA season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Sling base packages (Sling Orange or Sling Blue) start at just $20 for your first month, or you can get Sling Orange + Blue starting at $27.50 for your first month.

There are no long-term contracts with Sling TV, and you can change your channel lineup anytime. DVR is included along with thousands of on-demand shows and movies.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.