Warriors Gaming Squad is a champion once more.
The team hoisted the Ticket Tournament banner with a 59-49 win over first-time tournament finalists Pacers Gaming. Warriors Gaming Squad, originally seeded fifth in the bracket, also won $90,720 in prize money from the $180,000 prize pool.
With the tournament victory, the Warriors recorded a NBA 2K League first by winning consecutive NBA 2K League banners. The team took home the Turn Tournament banner with a victory over 76ers GC in Las Vegas. Warriors Gaming Squad is also the first team to win two banners (of three in the Tréfecta Banner Chain) in one season.
BSmoove was named MVP of the tournament after posting 17 points and 4 assists in the final. He averaged 17.5 points and 4.3 assists per game in the tournament.
Warriors Gaming Squad knocked off four teams en route to the title. They defeated T-Wolves Gaming 58-52 in the first round, highlighted by late 74-foot heave by Gradient. In the quarterfinals, they topped thirteenth-seeded Raptors Uprising GC 54-52 on a last-second shot from BSmoove. The Warriors defeated host team Magic Gaming 58-56 in the semifinals before surpassing Pacers Gaming in the final.
Pacers Gaming will take home $29,760 for finishing in second place. The third, and fourth-place teams, Magic Gaming and Knicks Gaming, each won $15,360 for their semifinal finishes. The fifth through eight finishes took home $7,200.
Last year’s Ticket Tournament champions, Knicks Gaming, nearly pulled off another Cinderella run. The Knicks won three games, including an upset of second-seeded Mavs Gaming, after entering the tournament as the No. 18 seed. They lost to Pacers Gaming in the semifinals.
With the Ticket Tournament over, and with it the entire 2019 Banner Chain series, all attention turns to the final four weeks of the season. Seven playoff spots remain up for grabs. Warriors Gaming Squad, at 7-4 in the regular season, had an inside track to the playoffs already; now, a slightly lower-ranked team has an opening to qualify. In the playoffs, the Warriors will be seeded according to their regular-season record.
Knicks Gaming won it all last year after their miraculous Ticket Tournament run. Will Warriors Gaming Squad, with two titles in their back pocket, pull off the same feat this season?
