The bulk of the work is complete at this point; this past week every day saw eight games get played. From here on out, we're down to four at most, but even that total is going down, as the last four or five days will only need one game a day to be played.
Today's schedule is a continuation of the loser's bracket, with the eight teams that won yesterday all playing again. I feel kind of bad, because for a few teams, they are playing back-to-back-to-back, but they would get a rest after today, and this could have been avoided with a win back on Thursday for them.
Home court advantage for today's games is decided primarily by seeding based on Group Play finish, with any ties in seeds being broken first by Group Play record, then by point differential. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it.
Loser's Bracket
@ (5) '10 Los Angeles Lakers 93, (6) '00 Los Angeles Lakers 88
The '00 Lakers led by 16 at the half, but only scored 13 points in the third quarter as the '10 Lakers roared back behind some timely threes and good contributions for a deeper bench due to the third straight day of playing. '10 Kobe Bryant scored 18 points, Andrew Bynum added 16 points and 12 rebounds, Pau Gasol chipped in 11 and 11, and Ron Artest scored 13 points for the '10 team. Shaquille O'Neal had 25 points and 12 rebounds to pace '00 Los Angeles, Glen Rice scored 17 points, and Rick Fox put in 14 off the bench.
Utah's playing its third game in as many days finally caught up with them, and while they played well, they couldn't defend a Boston team that shot 51.5 percent, including a 50 percent day from beyond the arc. Bill Russell had 11 points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks, Sam Jones put up 26 points and five rebounds, Don Nelson added 25 and seven off the bench, and John Havlicek finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and six assists for the Celtics. Glen Combs paced the Stars' attack with 28 points, Zelmo Beaty finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds, Willie Wise had 16 and 10, Red Robbins chipped in 18 and seven, and Donnie Freeman finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and seven assists.
The Lakers didn't let a third game in as many days bother them as they grab the home win and a much-needed off day tomorrow. The Pacers committed 21 turnovers and only hit three of their 14 three point attempts as they get eliminated. Byron Scott scored 22 points for Los Angeles, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 16 points and 15 rebounds, Mychal Thompson scored 14 points off the bench, and Magic Johnson finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and 15 assists. Bob Netolicky had 23 points and 13 rebounds to pace Indiana, Mel Daniels added 14 and 15, George McGinnis recorded 11 and six off the bench, and John Barnhill scored 11 points in garbage time.
@ (7) '79 Seattle Supersonics 93, (8) '04 Detroit Pistons 84
Seattle wins the battle of deeper benches after holding Detroit to 38 percent shooting, including a 2-14 day from beyond the arc. Dennis Johnson had 20 points and six rebounds for the Sonics, Jack Sikma added eight points and 18 rebounds, and Lonnie Shelton chipped in 14 and seven. Corliss Williamson scored 16 points off the bench to pace the Pistons' attack, Rip Hamilton had 10 points, five rebounds, and six assists, and Chauncey Billups finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
To see the updated bracket, click here.
And then there were 12. Today's winners all get tomorrow off to recover and await a new set of opponents, as we go to the winner's bracket and the third round of games there. Check back tomorrow for those results!
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