Magic Gaming Wins Thriller Over Defending Champs

THE TIPOFF, the first of three tournaments throughout the NBA 2K League season, helps teams learn about their strengths and weaknesses, provides them with an opportunity to establish an identity, and gives them a taste of the competition.

Occasionally, as Magic Gaming got to experience in their second game of the tournament, teams get to test out their resilience and mettle, too. And why not test all that out during one of the most entertaining and frenetic games in NBA 2K League history.

Mykel “KelMav” Wilson, one of four newcomers this season, flushed home a game-winning dunk with 0.5 seconds left in double overtime as the Magic took down the reigning champs, Knicks Gaming, with a 72-70 victory to advance to the final round of the tournament, which will take place Saturday, April 6.

KelMav, the Magic’s third round pick in last month’s draft who hails from Greenville, Miss., wasn’t the only one to come up big when the pressure mounted.

Returning from last year’s inaugural squad, Emmanuel “UCMANNY” Cruz knocked down a game-tying 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The team’s other returnee, Cameron “KingCamRoyalty” Ford, helped force a double OT with a tying jam with 11.1 ticks left.

“We had to stay patient,” KingCamRoyalty said. “They like to pressure us and try to make us rush and force turnovers. We did a good job taking care of the ball and a lot of that is on Reid (Brendan “Reizey” Hill), Mav and Manny. They were able to take advantage of the mismatches when we got them.”

Trailing by double digits in the first half, the Magic stormed back behind stifling defense, which keyed their wire-to-wire win over the expansion Nets in the earlier game, and efficient shooting from UCMANNY, who finished with 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor and 4-of-5 from 3-point range.

Like he did against NetsGC, KingCamRoyalty notched another double-double with 11 points and 19 rebounds. In the two games combined, the 21-year-old Cleveland native racked up 38 boards.

KelMav finished with 20 points and seven assists, while Daniel “DT” Tlais, the team’s second round pick, posted 11 points and five rebounds.

Dayvon “GOOFY757” Curry made all 13 of his shot attempts for the Knicks and recorded a game-high 26 points, while the other player the Knicks retained from last year’s championship team, Adam “Iamadamthe1st” Kudeimati, scored 20 points.

Although it was an impressive opening night for the Magic, it’s clear they are on a mission to accomplish much more before they return to Orlando to start gearing up for the start of the regular season.

“We’re not satisfied at all,” DT said. “We’re here for one reason, it’s to win the whole tip-off tournament.”