Five exciting series on Tuesday night kicked off the final stretch of the regular season, as two more teams clinched playoff berths and others saw their spots land in more precarious positions than before.
Hawks Talon GC def. Hornets Venom GT 2-0
Game One: 76-73, HTG
Game Two: 69-60, HTG
Top Performer: Kel (20.5 points, 3.5 steals per game)
Hawks Talon GC is likely reliant on the Ticket for a playoff spot, but they sure didn’t mind playing a little spoiler tonight. BP (24.5 points, 7.5 assists per game) dropped 36 game-one points as Atlanta survived a Hornets comeback bid. After going down in the first half of game two, Lee (12.5 points, 11.5 rebounds per game) and his teammates strung together a strong third quarter to ensure a series win, dedicating everything to teammate FollowTHEGOD, who lost his mother earlier this week.
Hornets Venom GT received a 44-point game one performance from Snubby (40.5 points per game) but their comeback fell short after digging themselves a first-half 20-point hole. Charlotte has a quick turnaround as they’re slated to play T-Wolves Gaming tomorrow night in search of their eighth win.
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A deeeeep triple from @BPTHEGOD_ extends the @HawksTalonGC lead even more before the half! 💪 pic.twitter.com/pJPAhlYFnB
Celtics Crossover Gaming def. Heat Check Gaming 2-1
Game One: 63-61, CCG
Game Two: 58-52, HCG
Game Three: 61-59, CCG
Top Performer: Bulleyy (21.7 points, 3.3 assists per game)
In Bulley’s first-ever appearance as an NBA 2K League starting point guard, Celtics Crossover Gaming grabbed the win over Heat Check Gaming. I think everybody in the league knew we wouldn’t see oFab in the starting lineup last night after a certain periscope might have hinted at it over the weekend.
Whether it be ‘Ewing Theory’ or otherwise, the fact of the matter is that Boston won a series despite benching a top-5 point guard. Game three included Boston coming back from a 19-point deficit. This league never fails to surprise us.
Hotshot (17 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks per game) posted three straight double-doubles, including 19+ points in 2 of 3, but his impressive performances continue to be insufficient for Miami. The superstar center has been the lone bright spot for Heat Check Gaming this season and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. Starting Deedz at lock over solid rookie TBShiftay probably didn’t help, either.
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I’m so proud of my guys and the way they fought through adversity tonight! On to the next one. #FightTogether ☘️
Kings Guard Gaming def. Knicks Gaming 2-1
Game One: 72-65, KGG
Game Two: 60-59, KNX
Game Three: 68-46, KGG
Top Performer: Yusuf Scarbz (12.3 points, 16.7 rebounds per game)
It took longer than Kings Guard Gaming was expecting, but it got the job done and now stands one step closer to clinching a playoff spot. Despite a disappointing end to their tournament run last week, Sacramento once again rolled out its lineup with Yusuf_Scarbz at center and it was later easy to see why. Give credit to Sacramento for realizing they had previously hit their ceiling and needed to make a change to reach a new level.
Knicks Gaming’s playoff hopes were all but dashed tonight in a rematch that was closer than the series during the Turn, but still yielded similar results. New York was never able to get both Duck and Malik going at the same time. Like most point guards, Duck had a difficult time shaking Kings lock Crush all series and it felt like he was on a cold ring for most of his time on stream. Give credit to Malik, who went unconscious from beyond the arc late in the Knicks’ game two win.
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Playoffs 3/3 come on
Wizards District Gaming def. NetsGC 2-1
Game One: 68-66, NGC
Game Two: 75-72, WDG
Game Three: 74-62, WDG
Top Performer: JBM (28.3 points, 6.7 assists per game)
It didn’t come easily, but Wizards District Gaming finally clinched a playoff berth after defeating NetsGC 2-1. After dropping the first game on a bizarre full court pass that slipped through Reese’s outstretched arms and into Choc’s hands, Washington settled down and cleaned up enough tiny mistakes to sneak away with the next two games. JBM’s three-point shooting has had a significant impact on the team’s success and represents another gear Washington has yet to consistently unlock. This also marks Dayfri’s first trip to the playoffs in three season.
Meanwhile, the Nets let one slip away after putting together a decent effort tonight. Choc returned to his regular position at point guard and was brilliant throughout the series. Unfortunately, the Nets as a whole couldn’t keep pace with Washington over the course of three games. Offensive rebounds hurt the team late in game two, as they led to huge threes from Just_Awkward and ReeseDaGod. Brooklyn also had a bit of difficulty dealing with Newdini’s defense in the pick and roll.
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“You won’t ever win in the league” “Dayfri is too toxic” “Nobody wants to play in Washington” SOUNDS GOOD! Playoffs man!! S/o my brothers @JackMascone @ReeseDaGod @JustAwkward @Newdini @BRlCHARDSON 💪🏻 https://t.co/wjIZt1eYO2
Warriors Gaming Squad def. T-Wolves Gaming 2-1
Game One: 62-59, WGS
Game Two: 58-56, TWG
Game Three: 70-57, WGS
Top Performer: CB13 (27.7 points, 9 assists per game)
With playoffs potentially on the line, T-Wolves Gaming drew a less-than-favorable matchup. However, back to its original lineup with BearDaBeast at point guard, Minnesota showed fight last night. A couple of miscues in game one’s fourth-quarter surrendered an ample lead, while game two’s win was virtually the reverse.
Warriors Gaming Squad knew a win guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs and wouldn’t be stopped. Overcoming the double-digit deficit in game one and avoiding the potential reverse sweep after Minnesota’s game-two win were the only things standing in the way. It all came down to game three, where the Warriors wouldn’t disappoint.
CB13 closed out the series with flare, recording a game three double-double (29 points, 10 assists) and consistently finding his off-ball shooters for open shots all night long.
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Shot clock running out… @BSmooveJ nails the GREEN from long! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/etQRpVWR0D
