By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
Cinderella stories can happen, even in eSports.
Ranked 15th heading into “The Ticket” tournament, Knicks Gaming defied the odds and beat three teams to win $75,000 and an automatic berth in the NBA 2K League playoffs.
Knicks Gaming came into the quarterfinals Saturday full of confidence after knocking off Raptors Uprising GC in the first round Friday.
Team consultant and head scout Jerry Ferrara was on hand to take in the festivities.
🐢 @jerryferrara in the building to watch his squad @KnicksGaming compete for THE TICKET 🏆
🖥: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/fHAYKTuqkr
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
iamadamthe1st continued his hot shooting and, with IdrisDaGoat6 also contributing, paced Knicks Gaming to an early 10-point lead.
🗽 The hometown squad looking good early!
After the 1st Q, @KnicksGaming 22, @WizardsDG 12@ImThat6MB and @iamadamthe1st combined for 18 points.
🖥: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/SgTioXYYBE
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
Knicks Gaming’s point guard continued his dead-eye shooting from deep in the second half.
🎯🎯🎯@iamadamthe1st keeps up the hot shooting as he connects from DEEP!
Watch THE TICKET 🎟 here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/cT4dK2InnE
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
The home side took a comfortable lead into the half and showed no signs of slowing down.
🗽 Strong defense and 19 1st-quarter points from @iamadamthe1st has given @KnicksGaming a 41-27 halftime lead over @WizardsDG
Relive all the action from an exciting first half with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/mkiY7c6qGt
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
iamadamthe1st matched his career-high of 33 points early in the fourth quarter with this heat-check three-ball.
🎯🎯🎯@iamadamthe1st with ANOTHER 3 to tie his career high of 33 points!
Watch THE TICKET 🎟 here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/rwMqcFIcYO
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
The Cinderella Story continued for Knicks Gaming, as it moved on to the semifinals to take on the Cavs.
🚨 UPSET ALERT 🚨
Behind a huge performance from @iamadamthe1st (33PTS/9 AST) , No. 15 @KnicksGaming takes down No. 10 @WizardsDG 81-69 to book their spot in the next round of THE TICKET pic.twitter.com/ol927Mflzp
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
After the game, iamadamthe1st spoke about his big-scoring exploits.
🔥 Another hot shooting performance from @iamadamthe1st, who had 33 points on 6-of-10 shooting from 3 powered @KnicksGaming to a huge win over @WizardsDG to advance to the next round of THE TICKET 🎟@iamadamthe1st joins the @Intel Analyst desk to break down his awesome outing pic.twitter.com/ubtE3hRsjh
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
Heading into the semifinals, Knicks Gaming rolled into the arena looking to pull off another upset against Cavs Legion.
🔥 GAME ON 🔥@KnicksGaming x @CavsLegionGC
Winner advances to THE TICKET finals
🖥: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/N6pUhlITsf
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
Knicks Gaming got off to the quick start with yet another iamadamthe1st 3-ball.
If at first you don’t succeed, three and three again. @iamadamthe1st opens us up with…what else? 3️⃣ pic.twitter.com/KDKLgPWdS0
— KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 14, 2018
A huge second-quarter run got Knicks Gaming out ahead to a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
🗽 A monster first half from @Goofy757__ (19 PTS/8 REB/4 STL) helped fuel @KnicksGaming to a 38-27 halftime lead over @CavsLegionGC
Relive all the action from this awesome semifinal matchup with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/x05ipQ7gkO
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
The home side continued to press their advantage in the semifinal, with YeyNotGaming nailing a shot from deep.
@yeynotgaming connects from DEEP 3-point range for @KnicksGaming
Watch the semifinals of THE TICKET here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/hr3yznw8oN
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
It would be IdrisDaGoat6 who would nail the dagger shot and send Knicks Gaming into the Final, as they held on for a 74-67 victory.
🗽 @ImThat6MB nails the CLUTCH 3 @KnicksGaming are less than a minute away from clinching a spot in the finals of THE TICKET 🎟
Watch the semifinals of THE TICKET 🎟 here LIVE : https://t.co/GGGTun0cUh pic.twitter.com/VBj3n2pwt6
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
After the game, G O O F Y 7 5 7 spoke about Knicks Gaming’s huge opportunity in the Final.
🗽 A dominant performance from @Goofy757__ (22 PTS/13 REB/6 AST/ 5 STL) powered @KnicksGaming to a huge W over @CavsLegionGC and booked their spot in the finals of THE TICKET 🎟
He stops by the @Intel Analyst Desk to break down his clutch performance pic.twitter.com/TJux7vDUN7
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 14, 2018
It would be a matchup against CLTX Gaming for the right to lift the trophy. It was a tight back-and-forth contest, with IdrisDaGoat6 landing a body blow for deep.
Hyped. 😜 pic.twitter.com/QFNJiBeye7
— KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 14, 2018
Knicks Gaming found itself behind at the break, but stayed close thanks to the efforts of G O O F Y 7 5 7.
.@Goofy757__ at the BOARD pic.twitter.com/Y5sbfAznXN
— KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 14, 2018
Fittingly, it would be iamadamthe1st who got Knicks Gaming on level terms in the fourth quarter.
Put your 💵 on @iamadamthe1st threes and we’ll put that 💵 in the bank. TIED GAME. pic.twitter.com/qRHBDwNdgB
— KnicksGaming (@KnicksGaming) July 15, 2018
In the end, the hometown team would find a way to get ahead against their rivals from Beantown.
🏆 @KnicksGaming 🏆
🗽 @KnicksGaming takes down @CLTXGaming to win THE TICKET Championship and clinch a spot in the #NBA2KLeague playoffs! pic.twitter.com/x1GpI5PKBu
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 15, 2018
To the victors go the spoils.
🏆 CHAMPIONS 🏆@KnicksGaming raise their trophy and are crowned champions of THE TICKET 🎟 pic.twitter.com/zVMaf26M7z
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 15, 2018
Deservingly, iamadamthe1st took home MVP honors for the tournament and spoke about the honor after the Final.
🏆 MVP 🏆@iamadamthe1st of @KnicksGaming is crowned MVP of THE TICKET 🎟 tournament. He finished with 21 points on 5-of-11 shooting from 3 in the finals.
He joins the @Intel Analyst Desk to break down his incredible performance in the finals of THE TICKET 🎟 pic.twitter.com/mHTKBmFUDW
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) July 15, 2018
STATS OF THE TOURNAMENT: “The Ticket” tournament will be known as iamadamthe1st’s coming out party – 33 points in the 1st round, 33 points in the quarterfinal and a huge 21-point effort in the Final.
UP NEXT: Knicks Gaming goes back into tournament play Friday at 7 PM against Pistons GT. You can watch live action of the NBA 2K League on Twitch.
TUNE IN: Don’t miss the next episode of KNX Gaming: Inside the NBA 2K League Tuesday at 10 PM on MSG and MSG GO.