The Consolation Bracket is 16 games in and destinies have diverged. The 16 teams that lost are all back in action today down in the loser's bracket. The teams that lose today will all be eliminated. The winners, meanwhile, will stay alive and have a day off to await their next opponents.
As with the first two days, higher seeds get home court advantage for this game. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Time to play.
Loser's Bracket
@ (6) '62 Boston Celtics 128, (8) '61 Boston Celtics 113
The '61 Celtics shot just 35.8 percent from the floor and missed 13 free throws en route to elimination. '62 Bill Russell gave them the push out the door with 14 points, 24 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks, '62 Tommy Heinsohn added 25 points and 10 rebounds, '62 Satch Sanders chipped in 16 and seven, and '62 Jim Loscutoff finished with 14 and 11 for '62 Boston. The '61 Celtics got 21 points and eight rebounds out of their Heinsohn, '61 Russell had 16 and 24, and '61 Bob Cousy finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.
The Bulls are a surprising two-and-out team after getting badly outrebounded and shooting just 39.8 percent for the game. Larry Bird led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, Robert Parish had 15 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks, M.L. Carr scored 15 points off the bench, and Cedric Maxwell chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds for the Celtics. Michael Jordan had 18 points, six rebounds, and five assists for Chicago, while Scottie Pippen added 10, five, and five, and Luc Longley scored 14 points.
@ (7) '69 Oakland Oaks 129, (8) '59 Boston Celtics 119
The Oaks turned the ball over 24 times, but hit 48 percent of their shots and won the rebounding battle to survive and hang on for the win. Rick Barry led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, Doug Moe added 20 and 11 off the bench, Warren Jabali logged 19 and 10, and Mel Peterson added 14 and eight off the bench for Oakland. Bob Cousy paced the Celtics with 23 points and 10 assists, Tommy Heinsohn had 21 points and 15 rebounds, and Bill Russell finished with 12 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.
Our first overtime game of the postseason saw the Warriors come back from down eight to start the final quarter with Rick Barry tying the game with 12 seconds to go on a layup. After taking a couple small leads though, Golden State went silent for two minutes and the Celtics pulled away for the win. Bill Russell had 14 points and 18 rebounds, Sam Jones put up 27 points and seven assists, John Havlicek added 23 points and nine rebounds, and K.C. Jones chipped in 18 points and nine assists for Boston. Barry finished with 39 points, six rebounds, and six assists for the Warriors, Butch Beard added 28 points and eight rebounds, and Clifford Ray logged 13 points and 19 rebounds.
@ (6) '72 Indiana Pacers 106, (8) '58 St. Louis Hawks 90
Indiana shot 54 percent from the floor and held the Hawks to a 35.9 percent clip to survive and advance to the next round. Mel Daniels had 16 points and 13 rebounds, Bob Netolicky added 16 and seven, and George McGinnis chipped in 12 and 12 off the bench for the Pacers. They spoiled a 26 point, 10 rebounds performance from Bob Pettit, while Jack McMahon scored 10 points and Cliff Hagan finished with nine points and nine rebounds for the Hawks.
(8) '76 Boston Celtics 134, @ (7) '60 Boston Celtics 115Our first upset of the day claims a '60 Celtics team that turned the ball over 20 times despite a 50 percent day from beyond the arc. The '76 Celtics hit 31 of 39 free throws, however, and won the rebounding battle to stay alive. Jo Jo White led the way with 28 points and eight rebounds, John Havlicek added 28 and five, Dave Cowens put up 23 points and 18 rebounds, and Charlie Scott chipped in 22 points and eight assists for the '76 team. Bill Russell had 14 points, 21 rebounds, and five blocks to pace '60 Boston, Bob Cousy put up 21 points and seven assists, and Tommy Heinsohn chipped in 13 points and five rebounds.
Billy Cunningham followed up his own blocked shot to tie the game for Philly with eight seconds left, but Boston still had time to win the game. Dave Cowens missed a jumper with two seconds left, but John Havlicek was on the spot to tip it home at the buzzer and send Boston onward. Hondo finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, Cowens finished with 30 and 15, Jo Jo White added 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Paul Silas finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics. They overcame a 32 point, 22 rebound, five assist day for Wilt Chamberlain, while Chet Walker added 23 points and seven rebounds, and Hal Greer recorded 20 and five.
@ (7) '63 Boston Celtics 130, (8) '56 Philadelphia Warriors 121
The Celtics forced 23 turnovers and won the rebounding battle to edge out the Warriors and stay alive in the loser's bracket. Bill Russell went off for 22 points, 27 rebounds, and five blocks, Tommy Heinsohn had 24 points and eight rebounds, John Havlicek added 27 points and seven rebounds, and Sam Jones scored 19 points for Boston. Paul Arizin paced Philly with 33 points and 11 rebounds, Tom Gola added 17 and 11, Neil Johnston had 14 and 14, and Jack George finished with 18 points and 11 assists.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
And so with that, we are down to 24 teams left in the Consolation Bracket. Eight teams are still alive, and have a day off to recuperate and find out who their next opponent will be. Check back tomorrow to see the second round of the Winner's Bracket and find out our next matchups!
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