By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
In a back-and-forth tussle, the Knicks Gaming team suffered its first loss of the NBA 2K League, falling to Blazer5 Gaming, 74-70, Saturday night.
The Knicks Gaming team made their entrance in front of a very partisan hometown crowd and were looking to improve their record to 2-0 after their league-opening win over Warriors Gaming last week.
π£Donβt forget weβre in NYC!
The hometown @KnicksGaming squad takes the floor to close Week 2!
π»: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/vBKhakIVx5
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 19, 2018
Led by a strong first quarter from G O O F Y 757, Knicks Gaming seized an early 20-14 at the end of the first quarter. G O O F Y dominated the paint early and was looking to establish himself down low.
πͺ@Goofy757__ πͺ@KnicksGaming up 6 heading into the 2nd Q.
π»: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/U6SbhZw6F6
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 19, 2018
But Blazer5 Gaming would come right back in the second stanza, as OneWildWalnut led the charge from the boys from the Pacific Northwest.
With authority!@OneWildWalnut2K with the two-handed flush for @blazer5gaming.
π»: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/rFWqH5vqyT
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 19, 2018
The teams would head into the halftime break tied at 34 apiece. Knicks Gaming rode the production from G O O F Y, who had 15 points at the halftime interval and shot 7-for-14 from the field.
TIED at 34
Take a look at the @Alienware halftime show with some highlight reel slams from @blazer5gaming and @KnicksGaming. pic.twitter.com/hXPHEIw2Hw
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 19, 2018
The momentum would swing back towards Knicks Gaming in the third quarter, thanks to timely three-point buckets from NateKahl. Knicks Gaming would end up going into the fourth quarter with a two-point lead.
NATE THE GREAT@NateKahl sinks the corner triple and @KnicksGaming is pumped!
π₯: https://t.co/v1LLynxNVO pic.twitter.com/txToZhRo5w
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 19, 2018
But in the end, Blazer5Gaming would have too much for the Knicks Gaming squad in crunch time. They would pull away down the stretch, as the intensity and tension peaked late in the fourth quarter.
INTENSE β‘ @OneWildWalnut2K @blazer5gaming looking to hold off @KnicksGaming late in the 4th Q.
π₯: https://t.co/v1LLynxNVO pic.twitter.com/w70JMCfHPd
β NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 20, 2018
G O O F Y led all scorers with 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, shooting 13-for-23 from the field. iamadamthefirst chipped in with 14 points and 7 assists.
Knicks Gaming will try to get back over the .500 mark next week Saturday, as the team takes on Magic Gaming. You can watch all the action of NBA 2K League live on Twitch.
Knicks Gaming Record: 1-1
Stat of the Night: Despite the loss, Knicks Gaming was extremely proficient with the three-ball, shooting 8-for-16 from beyond the arc. NateKahl led Knicks Gaming with three triples.