The Boston Celtics won their first two games in the NBA In-Season tournament, kicking off the inaugural celebrations. It seemed inevitable that they’d proceed to the elimination stage and then to Vegas to compete for the first-ever NBA Cup.

Then came last Friday’s game in Orlando, and the Celtics are suddenly in danger of having their first In-Season Tournament finish in Group Play. Despite a 2-1 record against their fellow Group C teams, the C’s 17-point loss to the Magic brought their tournament point differential to zero. The Nets and Magic are both 2-1, but have a superior point difference than Boston.

So, not only do the Celtics need to win the Bulls (0-3 vs. Group C) in Boston on Tuesday night, but they also need to thrash them. And Boston would still require some aid from outside sources to either win their group or advance as a wild card.

The Celtics must defeat the Bulls by at least 23 points to win Group C. The Bulls are 2-8 in their last ten games and have a six-game road losing run, so the Celtics have a solid chance to win big on Tuesday night.

The Magic are 3-1 in group play with a plus-22 difference and a win over the Celtics. If the Celtics and Nets (both plus-8) win on Tuesday, Boston, Brooklyn, and Orlando will be tied atop Group C. With the Magic having beaten the Celtics, the Nets having beaten the Magic, and the Celtics having beaten the Nets, it would all come down to differential.

Essentially, the Celtics must demolish the Bulls while hoping that the Nets win a close game against the Raptors. Otherwise, Boston will have to rely on the wild card to progress, which is unlikely.

The Celtics are competing for a wild card place with four other teams: the New York Knicks (2-1, plus-18), the Miami Heat (2-1, plus-11), the Nets, and the Cavaliers (2-1, plus-6). The Knicks play the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, the Heat play the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cavaliers play the Atlanta Hawks. All of those games, including the Celtics-Bulls, begin at 7:30 p.m.

To secure a wild card spot, the Celtics must defeat the Bulls while also defeating the Hornets, Bucks, and Hawks. The C’s could also advance with a defeat, but they’d need the three aforementioned teams to win handily. So, while that scenario is plausible, it is unlikely.

It basically comes down to the Celtics crushing the Bulls and hoping the Nets win a close one against the Raptors. Otherwise, the C’s chances of winning the first-ever NBA In Season competition are finished.

As a consolation prize, we may only have to see the dreadful In-Season Tournament floor at the TD Garden one more this season.