The NBA introduced the In-Season Tournament this season and with that has come something new to play for: point differential.
In the tournament format, there are three outright winners of three groups in each conference and a sole wild card spot that is likely to be decided by point differential. The first tiebreaker is record and the second is this point differential. The outright winners of groups are also decided by point differential if three teams in the group finish with a 3-1 record. These three group winners and the wild card team next play in a single-elimination knockout stage which ultimately concludes with the championship.
Whichever team wins the In-Season Tournament, every player and coach gets a cash prize of $500,000.
For example, in terms of point differential, the Suns finished with a 3-1 record with a +34 point differential and did not win their group. If the Rockets hadn’t lost on Tuesday, Phoenix would have only gotten this spot by a single point differential over the Pelicans (+33), who were also 3-1. However, New Orleans ended up winning the group with the Houston lost.
There have been plenty of players and coaches who have expressed displeasure with the point differential aspect.
For example, Celtics’ star Jayson Tatum said that it was disrespectful to the game and the opponent.
The Celtics then had to go out in their next game and try to run up the score on the Chicago Bulls. They did so by purposely fouling Andre Drummond in the fourth quarter despite being up big. Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzula then had to explain to Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan why he was doing so.
“They’ve got to deal with the rules too,” Donovan said after the game. “If they’re trying to get into Vegas, there’s things they got to do and for me, it was just the fouling.”
There have been multiple other instances where coaches and players have gotten mad about the point differential.
After the game, Booker explained: “No disrespect to the Grizzlies. I wouldn’t take that shot if it wasn’t an In-Season Tournament, but we needed it.”
Booker doubled down on his sentiment for the the point differential and then some after Phoenix’s loss last night to the Toronto Raptors.
“I’ve seen teams upset about it, I don’t know why,” Booker said to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin. “I’ve seen players upset about it, I don’t know why. Honestly, I wish every game was like that where you could play until the end, and it wasn’t viewed as disrespectful. Just high competition.”
Booker added: “If everybody’s under the same impression that you’re playing to the end, then it will never be a problem.”
Here’s what Kevin Durant thinks about the tournament, saying the NBA is trying to get fans more involved for regular season games:
We will see if the NBA makes any changes going forward for this tournament. Besides Booker, it seems like most players don’t like the point differential rule. However, overall, it seems like the tournament has been a success.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
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Arizona Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad scores right before overtime concluded to grab a 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche at Mullett Arena on Nov. 30.
Continuing their five-game home stand, Arizona were coming off of a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 28.
Additionally, that victory would be the ‘Yotes second in a row as they would look to add to their streak against the red-hot Avalanche.
Before tonight, Colorado were on a four-game winning streak and 7-1 in their last eight.
Like the Coyotes, the Avs’ last game was a victory over the Lightning, but they were able to put up a 4-1 score on Nov. 27.
Leading the Central Division prior to playing Arizona, Colorado had the second-most goals in the Western Conference with 80.
With the Avalanche possessing a high-octane offense, the Coyotes had to defend exceptionally well and maintain their opposition’s speed.
First Period
The game kickstarted with players from both teams speeding across the ice end to end.
Coyotes goaltender Connor Ingram would then have to stand tall as Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin had two opportunities to pounce and score.
As he saw Ingram stopping multiple chances, Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev did the same when Arizona pushed the other way.
In the slot, ‘Yotes defenseman Matt Dumba pinched and was wide-open for a wrist shot, but Georgiev stuck his left leg pad out to make a save.
Ingram and Georgiev were the story for the rest of the period until a Coyote was sent to the penalty box.
With only 1:54 remaining, Arizona left wing Lawson Crouse tripped Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen.
Because of this infraction, Colorado went to the power-play.
Quickly, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar fired a shot past Ingram to give Colorado a 1-0 lead with just 0:29 left in the first.
Second Period
Following a first-20 minutes of just one goal at the tail end, something ignited both teams during the intermission to get on the board early in the second.
First, Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi was looking for an outlet.
Finding nobody, Durzi fired the puck from the point and a chaotic sequence began.
Towards the goal, Arizona left wing Liam O’Brien deflected the puck with his stick to change its direction.
However, not only was the puck ricocheted off O’Brien’s stick, but Coyotes center Travis Boyd stood in front of Georgiev before he tipped the piece of rubber.
The puck would flutter over Georgiev’s left pad as Boyd tied the game, 1-1 3:03 into the period.
Then, Colorado took exception to losing their lead and grabbed another only 1:41 later.
Bursting down the right side of the ice, Avalanche left wing Miles Wood powered his way along the boards.
There, Wood would make a quick cut from behind the goal line and maneuver in front of Ingram to make it 2-1 Colorado 4:44 in.
Instantly, Arizona regained the momentum as they found themselves getting closer to a goal.
Keeping up their pressure, Arizona right wing Nick Schmaltz finally answered.
Behind the goal line, ‘Yotes center Alex Kerfoot sent a pass to Schmaltz in the slot, and Schmaltz wired a one-timer past Georgiev to knot the game again, 2-2 with 3:38 remaining.
Towards the end of the period, Georgiev would pull out a stick save on Coyotes left wing Clayton Keller.
Third Period and Overtime
Right out of the second intermission, Crouse curled around two Avalanche defenders, but was denied by Georgiev pulling off the splits.
Moments later, Coyotes left wing Michael Carcone sped around Colorado defenseman Josh Manson.
Beating Manson to the puck in the left corner, Carcone continued to boost behind the Avalanche goal and buried a wrap-around to hand Arizona their first advantage of the hockey game, 3-2 1:08 into the third period.
https://twitter.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1730438287461146782
Almost half-way through the last-20 minutes in regulation, Boyd was crushed towards the boards by Manson.
As a result, O’Brien and Manson dropped the gloves and fought at 10:11.
Because he stuck up for his teammate and started the scrap, O’Brien was given an extra penalty for instigating.
Going on the man-advantage, Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon sniped the puck to the top-right corner of the net and equalized the game once again, 3-3 with 9:56 remaining in regulation.
From then on, Colorado kept threatening and had the majority of the puck possession in the third period, but couldn’t capitalize again as the contest went to overtime.
In extra-time, Coyotes center Nick Bjugstad had a breakaway at 2:24 in OT, but was hooked from behind by Avs defenseman Bowen Byram.
The power-play Arizona received brought a few chances before it ultimately expired.
Seconds after though, Bjugstad shot at Georgiev’s left leg pad before banging home a rebound to win the game 4-3 in overtime for the ‘Yotes.
https://twitter.com/ArizonaCoyotes/status/1730448404722155829
Postgame Notes
In a hard-fought battle, the Coyotes were able to pull away and record their third-straight win.
This would also be the third game in a row since Ingram took over Arizona’s crease as he stopped 30-of-33 shots tonight.
Furthermore, Carcone’s goal was his 10th of the season, which ties Crouse for the team lead.
On the opposite side, Georgiev saved 27-of-31 attempts by Arizona.
With this outcome, the Coyotes improve to 11-9-2 on the season with 24 points and moves up to fifth in the Central Division.
Next, Arizona host the St. Louis Blues at Mullett Arena on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
