NBA In-Season Tournament: Qualified and eliminated teams

Among its many intended purposes, the NBA In-Season Tournament has proven to be a fruitful endeavor

[{"selector":"#anim-f7912ce0-bc70-4dd7-969f-4ae512b7e310","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -595.70715%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -167.51285058%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -56.94960354%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -21.385886685%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -9.29303154%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}]

The ratings have gone up, fans are more enthusiastic about games in the run-up to Christmas, and players say they feel more energized than usual.

[{"selector":"#anim-ea804bf1-e0b2-4234-96c3-7cc355a97ea3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}]

Thus, it can be said that the competition has been a success, and the stakes are about to become even higher now that positions in the knockout phase are at stake.

[{"selector":"#anim-87fefd49-b7db-4e0c-b9b8-61b63d1efe50","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

About 1.7 million people tuned in to watch the nationally televised tournament games on ESPN, which is 55% higher than in the same time slots last year.

[{"selector":"#anim-a07e247b-a50f-4bda-be76-4ec420596c34","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.72393%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f4b65f5-068d-45cc-82f4-de6fd45ebce0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4ae2b54-a371-411b-9a2b-5072e85faa89","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Only two teams have advanced to the quarterfinals, which are set for December 4, out of 60 games that have been played thus far in the competition. Specifically, we have the Los Angeles Lakers and the Indiana Pacers

[{"selector":"#anim-7dd74580-753c-441c-9361-a9468dd198fc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}]

With victories over the Pistons, Hawks, Cavs, and 76ers, the Indiana Pacers swept their group. While the Suns, Grizzlies, Trailblazers, and Jazz were all easily defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers.

[{"selector":"#anim-854fa6ff-f02a-46e9-aed8-a449e835ba40","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -357.45255%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -100.51565706%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -34.17246378%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -12.832546545%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -5.576259779999999%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}]

Milwaukee Bucks(3-0) and Orlando Magic(3-1) are Eastern teams in the wildcard chase; Sacramento Kings(3-0), New Orleans Pelicans(3-1), and Phoenix Suns(3-1) are Western teams with the greatest shot at competing for the wildcard spot in the quarterfin als.

Among these are the reigning NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic, and the Los Angeles Clippers' Big Four All-Stars. It was unexpected that neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor the Boston Celtics advanced past the quarterfinals.

[{"selector":"#anim-f5c15efc-8661-47e1-8ef5-aeb38cf169ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86970b40-dcf8-4c6b-8ca8-e181c26a2233","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Stay tuned for developments.