By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
Just like Cinderella, Knicks Gaming‘s story has a happy ending.
After a subpar 5-9 regular season, the 8th-seeded underdogs pulled off a monumental feat, running the table through the playoffs and capturing the first-ever NBA 2K League title with a 2-0 series win over Heat Check Gaming Saturday.
Knicks Gaming held on for a 69-66 Game 1 win and came from behind to steal a 74-71 Game 2 victory in the dying embers of the contest.
NateKahl was given the Finals MVP for his terrific defensive work on Heat Check Gaming’s small forward, Hotshot, who came into the Finals averaging 50.0 points per game in the postseason.
GAME 1: Knicks Gaming 69, Heat Check Gaming 66
All eyes were on the home team, as Knicks Gaming entered the arena two wins away from a title.
Game day boys, let’s get it. @KnicksGaming #NBA2KLeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/R0Pk4BnGnq
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) August 25, 2018
The home side got off to a fast start in the first quarter by turning defense into easy transition points.
🎯 @ImThat6MB drains the 3 for @KnicksGaming after his teammates do a great job of crashing the boards!
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/z6k9rDgWoY
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
G O O F Y 7 5 7 was feeling pumped after the first quarter.
GREEEEENNN! @Goofy757__ and @KnicksGaming feeling it early up 17-10 after 1 quarter.
🖥: https://t.co/v1LLynxNVO pic.twitter.com/OC9ANkY6IJ
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
While Heat Check Gaming relied heavily on the individual brilliance of Hotshot, Knicks Gaming took a more balanced approach with iamadamthe1st and YeyNotGaming raining threes from deep.
🗽 Thanks to early hot shooting from @iamadamthe1st & @ImThat6MB, @KnicksGaming are up 7 at the end of the 1st Q as they lead @HeatCheckGaming 17-10
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/fVs7uCjBOK
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
The matchup between NateKahl and Hotshot was a back-and-forth affair with one of the NBA 2K League’s elite defenders holding his own against Hotshot.
🚫 REJECTED 🚫@NateKahl comes up with the HUGE rejection which leads to a SICK AND 1 slam from @yeynotgaming
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/fn6SANpvYU
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
Knicks Gaming took a 10-point halftime lead and was looking comfortable at the break.
🗽 A strong first half from @iamadamthe1st (15 PTS/4 AST) & incredible defense from @NateKahl set the pace for @KnicksGaming who lead @HeatCheckGaming 36-26 at halftime of Game 1 of the #NBA2KLeagueFinals
Relive all of the first half action with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/uCSsmowpJD
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
Knicks Gaming carried the momentum into the third quarter, with G O O F Y getting into the act.
🗽 @Goofy757__ continued his strong play in the 3rd Quarter as he explodes for the MONSTER jam!
As we head to the 4th Q of Game 1 our score is: 🗽 @KnicksGaming 56 / 🔥 @HeatCheckGaming 44
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/eyFeR4Dnvs
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
HeatCheck Gaming did manage to cut into lead all the down to three in the fourth quarter, but a clutch defensive play from G O O F Y sealed the win late.
🗽 GAME 1 GOES TO @KnicksGaming
Incredible late game defense from @Goofy757__ helped @KnicksGaming escape Game 1 with a 69-66 victory over @HeatCheckGaming in the first game of this best-of-3 #NBA2KLeagueFinals series pic.twitter.com/imxAyyLQVl
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
The pro-Knicks crowd came unglued after the Game 1 win.
Game 1 goes to @KnicksGaming!! #NBA2KLeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/TFQG174f0D
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
STATS: Hotshot led all scorers with 44 points, but Knicks Gaming was able to withstand his big scoring. Knicks Gaming had the advantage from three-point land, shooting 8-for-13 compared to Heat Check Gaming’s 3-of-9.
GAME 2: Knicks Game 74, Heat Check Gaming 71
The script was flipped in Game 2 with Heat Check Gaming getting off to the rousing start. After being held down by NateKahl in Game 1, Hotshot started to catch fire early.
🔥 @Hotshotx305 throws down the strong jam!
A well rounded offensive effort from @HeatCheckGaming has them up over @KnicksGaming at the end of the 1st Quarter by a score of 21-15
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/4IJlMMem9e
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
Hotshot had his way down low in Game 2 against NateKahl and paced Heat Check Gaming into a double-digit lead at the break.
🔥🔥🔥@Hotshotx305 throws down the INSANE 360 jam! @HeatCheckGaming hold a 38-27 lead over @KnicksGaming at the half
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/2BXp9YxKF0
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
🔥 Strong defense and 22 first half points from @Hotshotx305 have powered @HeatCheckGaming to a 38-27 halftime lead over @KnicksGaming in Game 2 of this best-of-3 championship series
Catch up on all of the first half fireworks with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/sw3IJuBmab
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
A big three from Sharpshootinglos late in the third quarter gave Heat Check Gaming a 12-point advantage.
🎯🎯🎯@Sharpshooterlos drains the 3 to extend @HeatCheckGaming ‘s lead in Game 2 of this best-of-3 #NBA2KLeagueFinals championship series!
Watch the #NBA2KLeagueFinals LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAEoxy pic.twitter.com/sp1t8EW42I
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
It looked as if things were headed for a deciding Game 3, but Knicks Gaming would not be denied the ultimate prize.
Down 66-60 with just over two minutes remaining in the game, Knicks Gaming put it into overdrive. The team went on a 14-5 run to come back and seal the first-ever NBA 2K League championship.
🏆 CHAMPIONS 🏆@KnicksGaming wins the first-ever #NBA2KLeague Championship! pic.twitter.com/SFXHiBpGhV
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
In the end, a balanced attack proved to be decisive. All 5 members of Knicks Gaming reached double figures.
For his defensive exploits, NateKahl was awarded the NBA 2K League Finals MVP. He spoke about the accomplishment after the game.
🗽 An incredible defensive effort from @NateKahl played a vital role in the @KnicksGaming 2-game sweep of @HeatCheckGaming in the #NBA2KLeagueFinals and earned him the title of Finals MVP
He joins the @Intel Analyst Desk to breakdown his MVP performance pic.twitter.com/hZbXfypRtc
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
As MVP, NateKahl was given the honor to lift the championship trophy.
🏆 @KnicksGaming LIFT THEIR TROPHY AS THEY ARE OFFICIALLY CROWNED THE INAUGURAL NBA 2K LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! 🏆 #NBA2KLeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/uNgKN0z10m
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 25, 2018
Knicks Gaming’s title even got a shout out from Knicks rookie Kevin Knox on Twitter.
YESSIRRRRR!! Congrats to my boys💯… We bringing championships back to NY👀 https://t.co/evAxRq3LPj
— Kev (@KevKnox) August 25, 2018
TUNE IN: Don’t miss the season finale of KNX Gaming: Inside the NBA 2K league Tuesday at 10 PM on MSG and MSG GO.