Magic Gaming Eliminated from TURN After a Pair of Thursday Night Defeats

ORLANDO – The mission for Magic Gaming was simple on Thursday night. With a pair of contests in front of them, they only needed one victory in order to advance to bracket play in the TURN, the NBA 2K League’s second 5v5 tournament of the season.

Unfortunately, Orlando came up short in both contests and was eliminated from the tournament, and in the process, forced to now rely on THE TICKET in order to make the 5v5 postseason.

Magic Gaming Falls to Heat Check Gaming 

Even though four Orlando players scored in double figures, turnovers and defensive lapses proved to be too much for Magic Gaming to overcome in a 66-61 loss to Heat Check Gaming.

Miami point guard Kyjuan “Ky” Johnson erupted for 10 of his game-high 34 points in the final frame to help Heat Check Gaming outpace Magic Gaming’s high-octane offense and help them earn a rare victory over Orlando.

“It’s always disappointing to lose,” said Magic Gaming General Manager and Head Coach Jonah Edwards. “We did a lot of good things in that first game. … They played a really good game. Ky had one of his more complete games of the season.”

Magic Gaming floor general Joshua “unguardable” Hunter led his squad in points (23) and assists (nine) but coughed it up six times.

Orlando shooting guard Jarvis “Simptoms” Thompson and small forward Matthew “Matty” Grant each scored 14, while center Devin “Scoreo” Lawrence tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Magic Gaming Edged by Raptors Uprising GC 

For Orlando, it was the tale of two halves.

After a dominant first two quarters where they took a double-digit lead into the break, Magic Gaming stumbled down the stretch, committing costly turnovers and giving up second chance opportunities in a 64-56 loss to Raptors Uprising GC.

 “We beat ourselves in that second half, which is really unfortunate,” said Edwards.

Four Toronto players scored in double figures led by point guard Jamaal “Mooch” Gill, who erupted for 16 of his game-high 23 points in the second half.

For Orlando, unguardable once again had team highs in points (22) and assists (eight), but his five turnovers proved costly in the defeat.

Up Next

Magic Gaming will have nearly a month off before returning to action in THE TICKET. The league’s final 5v5 tournament of the season will offer the opportunity for two non-qualifying playoff teams (one from each conference) to punch their pass into the postseason. That action will begin on July 28.

“I have no doubt that we’re going to be prepared, have energy, and have a formidable showing in THE TICKET,” said Edwards, whose team used the tournament to qualify for the postseason last year. “We certainly have a group that’s capable of winning it.”