Is it the most exciting night of NBA 2K League action thus far in the 2020 season? Tonight’s slate certainly has the potential to be, where seven of eight teams enter the night with at least a .500 win percentage. There are teams looking to prove themselves against the best of the best, while the best teams try to guard their stature against up-and-coming challengers. It all tips off at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN2, the ESPN App and the league’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Gen.G Tigers (3-3) vs. Knicks Gaming (3-4), 7 p.m.
Gen.G will face off against Knicks Gaming tonight with an opportunity to push its record over .500. The Tigers seem to play as well as ShiftyKaii plays. In their series with the Bucks, the team lost game one, when Shifty scored 20 points, but won the next two contests behind a combined 94 points from the star point guard. Gen.G relies on the fifth overall pick to create offense for himself and others, and tonight will be no different.
Knicks Gaming boasts a talented backcourt duo of second-year veteran Malik and No. 2 overall pick Duck. When Duck takes care of the ball and Malik hits his hash three-pointers, the team’s offense is extremely potent. Against Cavs Legion, Duck turned the ball over 6 times in game one and Malik shot a pedestrian 40% from deep, resulting in a 20-point loss. Duck turned the ball over just 5 times in games two and three, while Malik upped his three-point percentage to 67%, and the Knicks won two straight. Much like Gen.G’s relationship with ShiftyKaii, the Knicks win games when these two perform well, and lose when they don’t. It’s truly that simple.
Key Matchup: No. 2 vs. No. 5
We just explained above how important these two rookies are for the success of their teams. Whichever one can minimize turnovers, score efficiently, and best create for his teammates will win this series.
Raptors Uprising GC (6-0) vs. NetsGC (3-1)
The Nets will end their so-far perfect week with a game against the best of the best in what is undoubtedly Brooklyn’s greatest test so far. Choc and co. will head into virtual Toronto to face off against KennyGotWork and the 6-0 Raptors. Choc has put together an impressive string of games to begin his rookie campaign, scoring at will and creating opportunities for the rest of his team. After beating three teams with sub-.500 records this week, NetsGC looks forward to the opportunity Toronto presents: a chance to prove Brooklyn is an elite team this season.
Raptors Uprising is the clear-cut best team in the league and will be until somebody makes the squad look human. The defense is swarming, the offense efficient, and it’s all tied together by MVP candidate KennyGotWork. Kenny hit his stride early, literally opening night, and hasn’t looked back since. Sick One reached another level of play this year, perfecting the point-center role. The team’s 2020 draft picks—Legit, Timely and Reece—round out what might be the best all-around starting five the league has to offer. NetsGC will have its hands full tonight.
Key Matchup: Choc vs. Turnovers
While Choc has been able to score, the turnovers have been an issue, and an issue that could cost this team games against elite competition, such as the Raptors. Toronto is going to press the rookie point guard like he’s never been pressed before. Will Choc be able to make the right reads, and take the right shots against the best defense in the league?
Jazz Gaming (3-1) vs. Wizards District Gaming (5-1)
A pair of teams on the rise clash tonight when Jazz Gaming takes on Wizards DG. The Jazz are coming off back-to-back wins against Blazer5 and Lakers Gaming, and can confidently beat teams from every position on the court. Despite Utah’s depth, Washington will need to account for Splashy, who was drafted No. 10 overall in the 2020 draft. The Jazz point guard has danced his way into viewers’ living rooms this season, averaging 15 points a game on 45% shooting.
Meanwhile, Wizards District Gaming looks for its sixth straight win. Washington has been dominant early on, sweeping Orlando, Detroit, Boston and even the surging Hornets. While the spotlight has shined on top pick JBM and charismatic center Dayfri, the Wizards have found a nice blend of two way play from the trio of Just Awkward, ReeseDaGod, and Newdini, collectively averaging 27.3 points and 4.8 steals a game.
Key Matchup: Ria vs. Dayfri
A veteran of the league and now a walking double-double, Dayfri has put together a career that Ria hopes to emulate and eventually outdo. These two talented bigs will play an integral role in securing the win for their respective teams. Both players are outstanding at creating second and third opportunities for their offenses but can also take over when the pace slows down late in the game.
Blazer5 Gaming (4-2) Vs. Warriors Gaming Squad (5-0)
Blazer5 Gaming will finally get a chance to redeem its early exit from the 2019 playoffs. In a rematch of their first-round meeting, these two teams now find themselves in slightly different situations. The Warriors are off to a perfect start to the season at 5-0, carrying over some of their momentum from last year’s crunch-time success. With most of the players from last season returning, building chemistry has come easy for them.
On the other side of the court, Blazer5 Gaming has dropped two consecutive games after going 4-0 to begin the season. Portland’s troubles have come when opposing teams force MamaImDatMan to give up the ball. In the past two best of three matchups, Mama is averaging 7.5 turnovers in losses, with a significant number of those errors occurring during the fourth quarter.
Key Matchup: CB13 Vs. MamaImDatMan
While the league meta has always placed point guards at center stage, this matchup isn’t your ordinary point guard battle. Currently, Mama is averaging 34.1 points a game, with CB13 not too far behind at 33.4 points. Both players are obvious MVP candidates and will likely put on a show tonight. It may come down to whichever one of these guards have the ball in their hands last.
