By: Lucky Ngamwajasat
In 1999, the 8th-seeded New York Knicks went on a Cinderella playoff run to the NBA Finals.
Now, Knicks Gaming has done the same in the inaugural NBA 2K League season.
After pulling off a stunning upset over top-seeded Blazer5 in the quarterfinals of the NBA 2K League playoffs, Knicks Gaming won the final two games of their best-of-three semifinals series against Cavs Legion GC in dramatic fashion. They now move on to take on Heat Check Gaming next week, in another best-of-three series to determine the champions.
A close Game 1 loss to Cavs Legion had Knicks Gaming in a must-win situation. It was a win-or-go-home time for Knicks Gaming and they had to have their ‘A’ Games going or have their season come to an abrupt end.
1⃣ win away for the #NBA2KLeagueFinals!@Sick_x_973 dominates the boards as @CavsLegionGC tops @KnicksGaming in Game 1 of the Semifinals pic.twitter.com/dKjZhaJiiK
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
Knicks Gaming played well in the early stages of Game 2 and had a lead after the first stanza.
🗽 @Goofy757__ throws down the jam to close the 1st Quarter!
Our score after 1 is: @KnicksGaming 20 / @CavsLegionGC 17
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/nzylxoUirf
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
But Cavs Legion GC would surge ahead and took a commanding nine-point into the halftime interval of Game 2.
A 26-14 run in the 2nd quarter has powered @CavsLegionGC to a 43-34 halftime lead over @KnicksGaming . @KnicksGaming MUST win to force a game 3 in this best-of-3 semifinals series
Catch up on all the intense first half action with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/6DXheaLsZe
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
With everything on the line, Knicks Gaming would not go down quietly. NateKahl started the slow climb back with a nice backdoor cut, leading to an easy jam.
🗽 @NateKahl with the nice backdoor cut and jam off the sweet feed from @iamadamthe1st
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/Tt9VerPVYm
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
The hometown crowd started to believe Knicks Gaming could force a deciding Game 3 and showed their support.
💪 @KnicksGaming energy! pic.twitter.com/HzRtS6Isgi
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
After getting outplayed in Game 1, G O O F Y 7 5 7 took matters into his own hands. He was a monster down low and began to feel it.
1⃣ POINT GAME@KnicksGaming stormed back in the 3rd Quarter and have cut the lead to 1 as we head to the 4th! @CavsLegionGC lead @KnicksGaming 60-59 as we get set to begin the 4th Quarter
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/UhEwGJNSA8
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
The momentum built by G O O F Y’s offensive exploits transferred over to the defensive side of his game.
🚫 REJECTED 🚫@Goofy757__ with the MONSTROUS chase down block!
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/T5tu1UNWVP
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
Knicks Gaming would take the lead in the fourth quarter. But in order to keep their season alive, they needed a big defensive stop. G O O F Y came up big on the final possession of Game 2 with a season-saving play.
🗽 @KnicksGaming COMPLETE THE COME BACK TO FORCE GAME 3! 🗽
A heroic rejection at the buzzer from @Goofy757__ locked up the Game 2 W for @KnicksGaming as they take down @CavsLegionGC 79-77 to a force a Game 3! pic.twitter.com/XKDPHGWDRG
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
The hometown fans LOVED it.
The final seconds from the @KnicksGaming VICTORY!
Win-or-go-home Game 3 is coming up!
🖥: https://t.co/v1LLynxNVO pic.twitter.com/pW2KGnpBGF
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
Knicks Gaming picked up where they left off in Game 3, starting off strong behind iamadamthe1st‘s three-point shooting.
🎯🎯🎯@iamadamthe1st continues the hot shooting! He drains a 3 to get @KnicksGaming off and running in this MUST WIN Game 3!
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/DwccFgcgK4
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
iamadamthe1st continued to light it up from deep, hitting this 3 to give Knicks Gaming an 11-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
👌👌👌@iamadamthe1st connects from WAY downtown! @KnicksGaming have come out on fire and hold a 25-14 lead over @CavsLegionGC at the end of the 1st Quarter.
The winner of this game will face @HeatCheckGaming in the #NBA2KLeague Finals! pic.twitter.com/HQShc177DL
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
Cavs Legion pulled closer in the second quarter, but Knicks Gaming was well in control at halftime in Game 3.
🗽 A big time first half double-double @Goofy757__ has helped lead @KnicksGaming to a 43-35 lead over @CavsLegionGC at halftime of this semifinal series finale!
Relive all of the first half fireworks with the recap powered by @Alienware pic.twitter.com/10VRQq6w2J
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
G O O F Y continued to control the paint with an aggressive attitude. There were going to be no easy buckets for Cavs Legion.
🗽 @KnicksGaming lead @CavsLegionGC 60-54 as we head to the 4th and final quarter of this do-or-die Game 3!
The winner of this game will face @HeatCheckGaming in the #NBA2KLeague Finals!
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/GNrJ0r6nUK
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
Cavs Legion made it a one-possession game in the fourth quarter …
💪 @Sick_x_973 powers home the jam as he looks to lead @CavsLegionGC back who are down late in the 4th to @KnicksGaming
Watch the #NBA2KLeaguePlayoffs LIVE: https://t.co/jyRINAVZW8 pic.twitter.com/bdh5exwmLb
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
… but, in the end, Knicks Gaming closed it out!
🗽 @KnicksGaming IS HEADED TO THE FINALS! 🗽@KnicksGaming win 2 straight games and take down @CavsLegionGC 81-78 in the decisive Game 3 to secure their spot in the #NBA2KLeague Finals where they will face @HeatCheckGaming pic.twitter.com/iyw1UKCZ1V
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
After another clutch performance, G O O F Y spoke about the team’s thrilling run to the Finals.
🗽 A monstrous 20-20 performance in the decisive Game 3 from @Goofy757__ (22 PTS/20 REB) secured @KnicksGaming their biggest win of the season & a spot in the #NBA2KLeague Finals where they will face @HeatCheckGaming
He joins the @Intel Analyst Desk to breakdown his performance pic.twitter.com/M5u6RYMDdy
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) August 18, 2018
STATS OF THE NIGHT: Knicks Gaming rode the dynamic duo of G O O F Y and iamadamthe1st in Games 2 and 3. Both players recorded back-to-back doubles in the two contests.
GAME! (Game 2) Series Tied!!!@KnicksGaming beat @CavsLegionGC 79 – 77
-Knicks@iamadamthe1st – 30 points and 12 assists@Goofy757__ – 32 points and 14 rebounds
-Cavs@HoodBC_ – 35 points and 14 assists@Sick_x_973 – 25 points and 12 rebounds pic.twitter.com/mYar0j44jg
— 2k Analytics (@2k_Analytics) August 18, 2018
GAME! (Game 3) @KnicksGaming advance to the finals after beating @CavsLegionGC 81 – 78
-Knicks@iamadamthe1st – 36 points and 10 assists@Goofy757__ – 22 points and 20 rebounds
-Cavs@HoodBC_ – 26 points and 13 assists@Sick_x_973 – 30 points and 18 rebounds pic.twitter.com/BAuxNw76bG
— 2k Analytics (@2k_Analytics) August 18, 2018
UP NEXT: It’s on the final for Knicks Gaming, as they take on HeatCheck Gaming next Saturday in a best-of-three series for the NBA2K League Championship. You can watch live coverage of the series 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.