Just 40 games remain in the group stage of the NBA/ABA Tournament of Champions. For eight teams, their group stage is over; three of them are done for the tournament, while the other five have all locked up spots in the Elimination Stage. For 80 other teams, this round is their last change to either make the dance, affect their seeding, or for some, just play for some level of pride.
Of the 40 games left on the docket, only two are completely meaningless for the postseason. The remaining 38, at a minimum, are for positioning within groups, which could determine who gets home court advantage in the first round of the Elimination Stage. We also have two games between contenders for a 2nd seed, which would guarantee home court in the first two rounds. This accounts for half of the games this round.
By my count, we have 11 teams fighting for the final six spots in the tournament to be determined in this set. Nine games will determine those outcomes, including one win-or-go-home game. Meanwhile, only three of the eight groups have had their championships clinched; ten games will determine the fate of the other five, including one straight up title game. These include one game of overlap, so 18 of the 40 games have huge implications.
Standings, schedules, and scores for the tournament can be found here. All simulations are provided by WhatIfSports.com. Let's get to it!
Group A
Maurice Lucas ('77 POR): 17 pts, 15 reb, 5 ast
@ '24 BOS 125, '86 BOS 106
Jayson Tatum ('24 BOS): 20 pts, 8 reb, 12 ast
@ '95 ORL 125, '13 MIA 111
Shaquille O'Neal ('95 ORL): 34 pts, 13 reb
2013 Miami Heat retain 2 seed via point differential (difference of 1 point)
@ '81 BOS 115, '98 CHI 106
Larry Bird ('81 BOS): 17 pts, 10 reb, 3 stl
1981 Boston Celtics clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage
@ '74 NYN 116, '94 HOU 106
Larry Kenon ('74 NYN): 17 pts, 17 reb
1974 New York Nets clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage
1994 Houston Rockets are eliminated from postseason play
Group B
Andrew Toney ('83 PHI): 33 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast
'06 MIA 90, @ '04 DET 71
Shaquille O'Neal ('06 MIA): 18 pts, 9 reb, 3 stl
'75 KEN 111, @ '68 PIT 101
Artis Gilmore ('75 KEN): 23 pts, 30 reb, 4 ast, 5 blk
Despite '04 DET loss and '75 KEN win, 2004 Detroit Pistons clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage by point differential (difference of 71 points)
1975 Kentucky Colonels eliminated from postseason play
'02 LAL 95, @ '23 DEN 94
Kobe Bryant ('02 LAL): 32 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, 5 stl
Robert Horry ('02 LAL): 8 pts, 10 reb, 9 ast; made game-winning three at the buzzer
@ '97 UTA 104, '15 GS 86
Karl Malone ('97 UTA): 23 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast
With '15 GS loss, 2023 Denver Nuggets clinch Group B Championship
Group C
Kobe Bryant ('10 LAL): 32 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl
'89 DET 112, @ '73 IND 108
Isiah Thomas ('89 DET): 17 pts, 5 reb, 13 ast, 3 stl
'01 LAL 119, @ '56 PHI 97
Shaquille O'Neal ('01 LAL): 27 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 5 blk
'85 LAL 106, @ '53 MIN 104
Magic Johnson ('85 LAL): 19 pts, 6 reb, 14 ast
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('85 LAL): 24 pts, 11 reb; made game-winning shot with 1 second left
'87 LAL 110, @ '17 GS 101 (OT)
Magic Johnson ('87 LAL): 25 pts, 7 reb, 14 ast
1987 Los Angeles Lakers clinch Group C Championship
Group D
Zelmo Beaty ('71 UTA): 23 pts, 22 reb, 4 blk
@ '66 BOS 107, '73 NYK 95
Bill Russell ('66 BOS): 18 pts, 28 reb, 3 stl, 3 blk
1966 Boston Celtics clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage
1973 New York Knicks eliminated from postseason play
'84 BOS 123, @ '61 BOS 106
Robert Parish ('84 BOS): 22 pts, 16 reb
'88 LAL 112, @ '19 TOR 91
Magic Johnson ('88 LAL): 16 pts, 6 reb, 12 ast
'97 CHI 105, @ '03 NJ 89
Dennis Rodman ('97 CHI): 8 pts, 20 reb, 6 ast
1997 Chicago Bulls clinch Group D Championship
2003 New Jersey Nets are eliminated from postseason play
Group E
Bill Russell ('62 BOS): 19 pts, 21 reb, 6 ast
'14 SA 106, @ '78 WAS 92
Boris Diaw ('14 SA): 8 pts, 5 ast
@ '90 DET 88, '03 SA 77
Bill Laimbeer ('90 DET): 12 pts, 14 reb
'72 LAL 113, @ '25 OKC 109
Wilt Chamberlain ('72 LAL): 4 pts, 23 reb, 4 ast, 4 blk
@ '20 LAL 105, '12 MIA 88
Anthony Davis ('20 LAL): 26 pts, 6 reb, 6 blk
2020 Los Angeles Laker clinch Group E Championship
Group F
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Bill Russell ('68 BOS): 14 pts, 19 reb, 3 blk
Bill Russell ('69 BOS): 13 pts, 33 reb, 4 ast, 3 blk, 4 stl
@ '72 IND 115, '76 BOS 96
Mel Daniels ('72 IND): 18 pts, 15 reb
'09 LAL 100, @ '55 SYR 82
Kobe Bryant ('09 LAL): 41 pts, 6 ast, 6 stl
'92 CHI 99, @ '22 GS 95
Scottie Pippen ('92 CHI): 17 pts, 21 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk
@ '25 IND 117, '05 SA 85
Tyrese Haliburton ('25 IND): 10 pts, 11 ast
2025 Indiana Pacers clinch Group F Championship
Group G
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('80 LAL): 30 pts, 12 reb, 5 ast, 5 blk
@ '93 PHX 104, '91 CHI 94
Charles Barkley ('93 PHX): 28 pts, 16 reb, 11 ast
@ '18 GS 99, '16 CLE 89
Kevin Durant ('18 GS): 28 pts, 9 reb
'70 NYK 120, @ '69 OAK 109
Willis Reed ('70 NYK): 13 pts, 17 reb, 4 ast
1969 Oakland Oaks are eliminated from postseason play
'08 BOS 106, @ '58 STL 97
Kevin Garnett ('08 BOS): 24 pts, 15 reb
2008 Boston Celtics clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage
Group H
Clyde Drexler ('95 HOU): 28 pts, 9 ast
'11 DAL 105, @ '59 BOS 87
Dirk Nowitzki ('11 DAL): 30 pts, 8 reb, 4 blk
@ '21 MIL 102, '71 MIL 100
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71 MIL): 38 pts, 11 reb; made game-tying free throw with 14 seconds left
Giannis Anteokuonmpo ('21 MIL): 23 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast; made game-winning dunk at the buzzer
'96 CHI 115, @ '54 MIN 74
Toni Kukoc ('96 CHI): 21 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast
'76 NYN 109, @ '70 IND 94
Julius Erving ('76 NYN): 26 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 3 blk
1976 New York Nets clinch a berth in the Elimination Stage
1970 Indiana Pacers eliminated from postseason play
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