By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
For most of the NBA 2K League season, Knicks Gaming has relied heavily upon G O O F Y 7 5 7 and IdrisDaGoat6 for points.
Not on Friday.
Behind a 33-point, 8-assist effort from iamadamthe1st, Knicks Gaming pulled off the upset over Raptors Uprising GC in the first game of The Ticket tournament.
Coming into the tourney, Knicks Gaming into it ranked number 15.
The schedule for THE TICKET is out! https://t.co/Un0NdlWzg7
What you need to know:
– $150K prize pool
– Single-elimination tournament
– Winner awarded spot in #NBA2KLeague Playoffs
– Games begin 6 pm/et on Thursday
– Watch the entire tournament on @Twitch pic.twitter.com/0TMLrXOApiโ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 11, 2018
As always, Knicks Gaming got strong support from the hometown fans.
THE TICKET starts NOW! ๐
๐ฎ: @KnicksGaming x @RaptorsGC
๐ป: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/YATYETjyDsโ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
Early on, it was Knicks Gaming’s tried and true combination fo G O O F Y 7 5 7 and IdrisDaGoat6 doing the business.
๐ซ @Goofy757__ with the HUGE block that leads to the transition jam by @ImThat6MB
Watch THE TICKET ๐ here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/kCjGm6XCrJ
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
But the favorites would end up taking an 8-point lead into the second quarter.
๐ @AllHailTrey with the sick cross over and SLAM!@RaptorsGC lead @KnicksGaming 19-11 after the 1st quarter
Watch THE TICKET ๐ here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/Vp3HowDKzg
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
iamadamthe1st started to heat up from long range …
๐ฏ @iamadamthe1st pulls up from DEEP and drains the 3!
Watch THE TICKET ๐ here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/Lyrji5mNei
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
… and helped Knicks Gaming to head into the halftime interval tied at 35.
TIE GAME@ImThat6MB drills a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and tie the score with @RaptorsGC at the half.
๐ป: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/DSvMdGIE5y
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
A “heat-check” 3 from downtown proved that there would be no slowing down iamadamthe1st on this night.
WOAH. There are threes and there are THREES. @iamadamthe1st is on ๐ฅindeed. pic.twitter.com/Ueak6ksH0K
โ KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 13, 2018
And his teammates chipped in with bright moments of their own.
๐ซ๐ซ๐ซ@Goofy757__ with the HUGE block to spring the fast break and @yeynotgaming drains the J!
Watch THE TICKET ๐ here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/WGOAE77zMb
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 13, 2018
In the end, Knicks Gaming survived and advanced, moving on to the second round of THE TICKET tournament.
Highlights of an upset ๐
…with another 33-point performance, this time by @iamadamthe1st! ๐ pic.twitter.com/nTbFgCEVvo
โ KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 13, 2018
After the game, iamadamthe1st got the VIP treatment and spoke about his performance.
๐ฝ Powered by the red-hot shooting of @iamadamthe1st who had 33 points on 6-of-8 shooting from 3 & 8 assists, @KnicksGaming pull off the big upset and take down the #2 seed @RaptorsGC @iamadamthe1st joins the @Intel Analyst Desk to break down his clutch performance pic.twitter.com/tXhw8Wk6QI
โ NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
With iamadamthe1st becoming a feared outside weapon, will Knicks Gaming pull off the upset and stun the NBA 2K League to win the tournament?
I told yโall we got a new point guard ๐คท๐พโโ๏ธ๐คซ๐ฏ
โ Underrated ๐คซ๐ฏ IdrisDaGoat6 (@ImThat6MB) July 13, 2018
STAT OF THE NIGHT: G O O F Y adjusted to a more supporting role Friday night and a terrific outing down low, posting 16 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
UP NEXT: Knicks Gaming moves on to take on Wizards District Gaming in the quarterfinals at 11 AM tomorrow. You can watch live action of the NBA 2K League on Twitch.
TUNE IN: Donโt miss the next episode of KNX Gaming: Inside the NBA 2K League Tuesday at 10 PM on MSG and MSG GO.