Day two of the NBA 2K League playoffs provided less shocking results as the favorites showed up and earned spots into the semifinals Thursday night. Sweeps by 76ers GC over Pacers Gaming and T-Wolves Gaming over Kings Guard Gaming completed the first round of the league’s postseason.
MOVING ON! 😤@76ersGC are through to the semifinals where they will face @CLTXGaming! #HereWeCome#NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7M0fvgebnx
— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) July 26, 2019
No. 3 76ers GC vs. No. 6 Pacers Gaming
After the top seeds from yesterday’s quarterfinals were swept, 76ers GC ended that trend by sweeping Pacers Gaming. The two games between 76ers GC and Pacers Gaming were polar opposites of each other Thursday night.
Game 1
The day tipped with a tight matchup between Pacers Gaming and 76ers GC. After the first quarter, 76ers GC held on to a slim three-point lead. The offense of Pacers Gaming began clicking in the second quarter. Pacers Gaming recorded 16 points and went into halftime up by three.
76ers GC answered the run by Pacers Gaming with a big third quarter themselves. Philly rallied for 18 points and took over the lead. The fourth quarter provided exciting back-and-forth action that led to 76ers GC claiming game one 55-50.
Ethan “Radiant” White was the playmaker 76ers GC needed him to be. He finished with 16 points and 12 assists for a double-double. Alexander “Steez” Bernstein had team-highs for points at 20 and rebounds at nine. Nick “Swizurk” Grech did everything he could for Pacers Gaming after ending the game with a game-high 21 points and no turnovers.
Game 2
Game two of the series seemed to be all 76ers GC after the first quarter. The Philly squad jumped out to a commanding lead, 24-8, and looked to be poised to close the series. Pacers Gaming began the climb to come back and save their year in the second quarter. The Pacers outscored Philly by four and trailed by 12 at the half.
76ers GC put the game out of reach in the third quarter. Dry spells on offense hurt Pacers Gaming, while 76ers GC were thriving on the other end of the floor. 76ers GC ran down the clock in the fourth quarter and cruised to a 69-55 win to earn a spot in the semifinals.
White bested his game one performance by ending Pacers Gaming’s season with 28 points and 13 assists, both game-highs. Both sides had four players reach double digits in scoring. Ramo “Ramo” Radoncic scored 18 in the loss for Pacers Gaming.
🗣️ "We ain't supposed to be here!"@BearDaBeast23 is the @IntelGaming Player of the Game again after leading @TWolvesGaming to the semifinals of the playoffs.#IntelPerformanceAwards pic.twitter.com/pHxT1LecLt
— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) July 26, 2019
No. 4 T-Wolves Gaming vs. No. 5 Kings Guard Gaming
There was talk around the league that T-Wolves Gaming were the most feared team in the playoffs. Kings Guard Gaming found out the hard way what it was like to face the hottest team in the league.
Game 1
T-Wolves Gaming wasted no time to kick off their playoff appearance. The Minnesota squad jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter and extended it in the second quarter. Kings Guard Gaming were slow to get their offense going and had to overcome an 11-point halftime deficit.
Kings Guard took steps to make the comeback happen in the third quarter. Sacramento outscored T-Wolves 17-9 and was looking at a three-point game. The dream was quickly crushed in the fourth quarter after T-Wolves Gaming went on a 20-10 run to take game one 64-51.
T-Wolves Gaming’s trio of Michael “BearDaBeast” Key, Josiah “JoJo” Oetjen, and Jordan “JMoneyRep817” Martinez produced double-digit points in the opening game. Key led the group with game-highs of 23 points and 11 assists. Waseem “BallLikeSeem” Talbert scored 19 points for Kings Guard Gaming to lead his team.
Game 2
It was the same narrative in game two for these two sides. T-Wolves Gaming sprinted to a 14-7 lead in the first and controlled the tempo from there. The Minnesota crew had every answer for Kings Guard Gaming through the first three quarters.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Kings Guard Gaming were down by 10. Kings Guard slowly cut down the lead until the game was a one-possession game. The drama began building between the two sides as the clock ticked under two minutes. With the time dwindling, Oetjen hit a dagger three to put the T-Wolves up by two possessions. Kings Guard Gaming put up a few desperation shots, but they could not bring the game back and ended their season on a 56-49 loss.
Key had another impactful game with highs of 22 points and nine assists in the win. T-Wolves Gaming closed the game with only five turnovers compared to 12 from Kings Guard Gaming.
The semi-finals are set!@WarriorsGaming x @TWolvesGaming@CLTXGaming x @76ersGC
Games begin tomorrow at 5 pm/et👀 pic.twitter.com/Q6Nmx5c1Zs
— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) July 26, 2019
The NBA 2K League semifinals begin Friday with No. 3 76ers GC taking on No. 7 Celtics Crossover Gaming and No. 4 T-Wolves Gaming facing No. 8 Warriors Gaming Squad. Games begin at 5 p.m. EST.
Stay tuned to Daily Esports for daily recaps of the NBA 2K League playoffs.
