Magic Gaming Eliminated from THE TIPOFF with Loss to Grizz Gaming

The Lead:

Magic Gaming’s run in THE TIPOFF tournament came to an end after they dropped a 71-65 decision to Grizz Gaming in group pool play action on Friday night. Memphis point guard Michael “BP” Diaz-Cruz posted contest bests in both points (25) and assists (10).

Key Stretch:

Grizz Gaming set the tone out of the gate opening the contest on a 13-4 run. While Orlando was able to cut down the deficit multiple times – both in the second and in the fourth quarter – on each occasion, Memphis was able to rely on that cushion and respond.

“The Grizz have been, so far in this season, a team that goes on big runs and when they’re not, they’re very cold,” Magic Gaming Head Coach and General Manager Jonah Edwards said. “We let them come out and punch us in the mouth right away and put ourselves in a hole. We’ve done that a lot in this tournament so far and I think it says a lot about why we’re 1-4 at this point. It’s disheartening because it doesn’t feel like it’s due to a lack of preparation or a lack of focus in the group. We’ve been ready for the moment, and we were definitely prepared tonight.”

Top Magic Gaming Performers:

Magic rookie Justin “Kapp” Kaplan put together the best performance of his NBA 2K League career. The 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft erupted for a season-high 24 points to go along with six assists.

“He’s finally letting the game come to him a little bit, where I think before he’s like maybe tunneling in on certain decisions in doing certain things,” Edwards explained. “He’s letting it come to him a little bit and finding his spots a little more often and when he’s able to do that, he’s going to be pretty effective.”

Matt “Matty” Grant posted 14 points and three steals, Justin “Snubby” Stemerman scored 13, and Blaine “BigReign” Wilson tallied 10 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.

Quote of the Night:

“I think tonight was his best night. I thought he played really well. That was kind of in the back of my head like I really want to win this game for him. He’s playing really well. Obviously, there’s things that people don’t see like how much work he puts in. He’s constantly watching film, trying to figure out how to make himself better, how to make the team better. Stuff like that doesn’t go unnoticed. Just unfortunate we didn’t get the win for him.” – Magic Gaming power forward Robert “May” May on Kapp.

Up Next:

Magic Gaming (1-4) will head up to the NBA 2K League Studio in Indianapolis for league orientation, but unfortunately, will not be participating in bracket play as THE TIPOFF continues. Upon their return, they’ll begin preparation for the first 3-v-3 tournament of the season, THE SLAM OPEN, which tips off on Apr. 26.

How to Watch:

Fans can watch games live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Games will also be available on Dash Radio, eGG Network in Southeast Asia, Loco in India, and Sport1 in Europe.