By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
For three quarters, it looked like Knicks Gaming would cruise to an easy victory over previously winless Pacers Gaming.
Unfortunately, the home side couldn’t close it out down the stretch.
Pacers Gaming rallied from being down nine at halftime to stun Knicks Gaming, 67-63.
Things started off well for Knicks Gaming, as they used fast-break buckets to take an early first-quarter lead. They led by five after one.
Doing it on both ends of the floor@KnicksGaming denies @WoLF__74 which leads to a @Goofy757__ jam in transition.
💻: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/L44qpGZ3YR
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
Beautiful move and finish by @iamadamthe1st gives @KnicksGaming a 17-12 lead over @Pacers_Gaming after 1 quarter.
💻: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/uREWz44otJ
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
Strong defense from G O O F Y 7 5 7 down low continued to ignite the Knicks’ transition game.
🙅♂️ @Goofy757__ deny at the rim starts the @KnicksGaming fastbreak.
💻: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/SMCQGZ1nPJ
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
It was all going Knicks Gaming’s way with a nine-point advantage at the half. IdrisDaGoat6 and G O O F Y 7 5 7 were holding it down in the paint.
.@ImThat6MB and @Goofy757__ led the charge for @KnicksGaming in the 1st half with 27 combined points.
Halftime recap presented by @Alienware. pic.twitter.com/YZpMo4iqFn
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
Things slowly took a turn for the worse in the second half. Desperate to win its first game of the NBA 2K League season, Pacers Gaming started taking the ball strong to the rack in the second half.
And-1 💪@WoLF__74 takes it himself and finishes at the rim despite the contact.
💻: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/hu7zvjVyTg
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
Nevertheless, Knicks Gaming still had a six-point advantage after three quarters.
After 3 quarters, @KnicksGaming leads @Pacers_Gaming 54-48.
💻: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/FUYREhBBQP
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
This dunk from NateKahl looked like it would be more than enough for Knicks Gaming to seal the win.
PUTBACK JAM!@NateKahl follows up the miss for the tip slam to put @KnicksGaming up by 7.
💻: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/SZOCbDzbac
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
But Pacers Gaming wouldn’t go away and tied the game late in the final stanza.
TIE GAME
💻: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/g0p0CRFVBL
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
In the end, Pacers Gaming’s strategy of attacking Knicks Gaming in the paint paid off.
☃ @FrostyTheTruth puts @Pacers_Gaming up by 2.
💻: https://t.co/IWibnYP9k4 pic.twitter.com/lCKWbZqyBX
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) June 16, 2018
Both G O O F Y 7 5 7 and IdrisDaGoat6 had double-doubles in the contest.
What a great game!@Pacers_Gaming beat @KnicksGaming 67 – 63
-Pacers@TuckerLocksUp with 33 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks@WoLF__74 with 16 points and 14 assists
-Knicks@Goofy757__ with 18 points and 10 rebounds@ImThat6MB with 24 points and 12 rebounds
— 2k Analytics (@2k_Analytics) June 16, 2018
STAT OF THE DAY: It’s surprising to see another team succeed against Knicks Gaming down low, but that’s exactly what TuckerLocksUp did. The Pacers Gaming power forward scored 19 points in the second half to pace Pacers Gaming to a win.
UP NEXT: Knicks Gaming will look to shake off the disappointment of the loss next Saturday against Heat Check GC at 11 AM. Live coverage of the NBA 2K League is available on Twitch.