We're halfway through the Consolation Bracket portion of the tournament. While the Elimination Stage is playing on amongst the top 32 teams, I'm not sharing any results until next week due to volume. In the meantime, I'm keeping up with this project.
24 teams still remain, with eight of those teams seeing their final action today since we're back into the loser's bracket. Eight of these teams won on Wednesday to avoid elimination and face another such game today. Their opponents all lost yesterday and have to turn around and get ready to face elimination in today's contests.
Home court advantage once again is going to the higher seeds based on group finishes, though there are some same seeds matching up today. In those cases, Group Play records are the primary tiebreaker, followed by point differential. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get started.
Loser's Bracket
@ (6) '00 Los Angeles Lakers 101, (6) '61 Boston Celtics 86
The Lakers survive their first encounter in the loser's bracket after holding Boston to just 33 percent shooting and forcing 19 turnovers in the win. Shaquille O'Neal went off for 24 points and 18 rebounds, Kobe Bryant had 17 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, and Glen Rice chipped in 15 points and five rebounds for Los Angeles. Bill Russell notched six points and 16 rebounds for the Celtics, while Tommy Heinsohn logged 16 and six and K.C. Jones scored 13 points off the bench.@ (5) '10 Los Angeles Lakers 105, (5) '81 Boston Celtics 98
Make it 2-2 for Los Angeles as the Lakers hit all 25 of their free throws and used an 11-0 run early in the fourth quarter to help flip a six point deficit, though they needed some late Kobe Bryant heroics to seal the deal. Bryant finished with 32 points, five rebounds, and four steals, Pau Gasol added 16 points and 14 rebounds, Andrew Bynum recorded 14 and 10, and Derek Fisher scored 13 points for LA. Larry Bird had 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists for the Celtics, Robert Parish added 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, and Nate Archibald finished with 12 points and six assists.
The Stars got to the line 41 times, hitting 34 of them, which almost doubles Oakland's attempts as Utah bounces back to stay alive. Zelmo Beaty had another great game with 32 points and 14 rebounds, Red Robbins had 19 and nine, Glen Combs put in 16 points and Donnie Freeman scored 15 for the Stars. Rick Barry had 29 points, eight rebounds, and five assists to pace Oakland, Gary Bradds added 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Warren Jabali put up 15 and 13.
The Celtics are the first team that started in the loser's bracket to survive this round, perhaps thanks to 11 missed Knick free throws for the game. Getting 24 points and eight rebounds out of Sam Jones also helped Boston, as did six points, 24 rebounds, and nine assists from Bill Russell as well as 22 points and nine rebounds from John Havlicek. Walt Frazier led New York with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, Dave DeBusschere added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Jerry Lucas came off the bench to pitch in 13 and five.
@ (6) '72 Indiana Pacers 122, (8) '73 Indiana Pacers 102
The '72 Pacers put up 42 first quarter points to build an early lead, and finished the day with a 50.5 percent shooting clip as well as a clear rebounding advantage to defend home court and make it another team that has won two straight in the loser's bracket. '72 Roger A. Brown put up 23 points, six rebounds, and five assists, Bob Netolicky added 20 points and nine rebounds, '72 George McGinnis finished with 23 and 14 off the bench, and '72 Mel Daniels logged 19 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks for his Pacers. '73 McGinnis had 18 points and 11 rebounds, '73 Freddie Lewis managed 17 and six, and '73 Billy Keller scored 17 points for '73 Indiana.
@ (5) '88 Los Angeles Lakers 111, (8) '76 Boston Celtics 109
Big Game James Worthy hit a go-ahead jumper with 25 seconds left, and the Celtics missed a pair of tying looks on the ensuing possession as the Lakers survive and advance. Worthy finished with 19 points and six rebounds, A.C. Green added 12 and 11, Magic Johnson put up 14 points and 12 assists, and Byron Scott went off for 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists for Los Angeles. Dave Cowens paced the Celtics with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and five assists, Charlie Scott had 19 points and six assists, and John Havlicek finished with 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Detroit made the most of its unexpected home game as the Pistons forced 17 turnovers and hit 47.5 percent of their shots to survive the nightcap of a back to back and force a third consecutive game tomorrow. Chauncey Billups had 25 points, five rebounds, and six assists, Rip Hamilton scored 20 points, and Rasheed Wallace finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and four steals for the Pistons. Dave Cowens had 21 points and 13 rebounds, John Havlicek added 14 and 10, Paul Silas scored 13 points and Jo Jo White logged 10 points and six assists for Boston.
@ (7) '79 Seattle Supersonics 129, (7) '63 Boston Celtics 121
Seattle finishes the clean sweep for the home teams today with a 50.5 percent day from the floor while holding Boston to 39.8 percent shooting and seeing the Celtics miss 11 free throws. Gus Williams scored 24 points for the Sonics, Freddie Brown added 21 points and seven assists, Dennis Johnson had 20 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, and Jack Sikma went off for 15 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists. Tommy Heinsohn led Boston with 24 points and eight rebounds, Bill Russell had 17 and 17, and Sam Jones finished with 17 and nine.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
And with that, half the consolation field is gone. Today's winners get no real rest, though. Even though they all got home games today, only four get to remain there overnight. They are right back to it tomorrow in another set of elimination games. Today, however, serves as the final day with eight games on the Consolation Bracket schedule. Check back tomorrow to see who stays alive!
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