Lakers Gaming outlast Blazer5 Gaming in shootout

Cameron Wilhorn | RotoWire

Lakers Gaming pulled out a 111-103 victory over Blazer5 Gaming in overtime Wednesday during The Tipoff, Powered by AT&T in what was the second-highest scoring game in NBA 2K League history.

The Lakers caught fire early in the first period, downing four consecutive three-pointers to land an early eight-point advantage and forcing a B5 timeout with just under three minutes left in the first. The timeout proved worthwhile for the Blazers, who exploded out of the pause on a 10-2 run to knot it up at 17 all. A Claude three-pointer with less than five seconds left in the quarter catapulted Blazer5 Gaming ahead 22-19 after one. The second period was a back-and-forth affair, with Dvnxsty and Claude going shot for shot in what was an offensive showcase. Dvnxsty poured in 10 points in the period while Claude scored nine and dished out five more assists to nab a first-half double-double. The score was tied 44-44 at halftime.

Both offenses remained red hot to open the second half, as the Blazers took a small lead and kept it for nearly the entire period. The difference got extended to as many as seven before a late comeback and buzzer-beating three from Dvnxsty gave the Lakers a 70-69 lead entering the final frame. The Lakers would extend their lead early in the fourth and held it until Claude drilled a game-tying three with less than a minute to play, which was answered by a Lakers dunk. After getting a stop, Lakers Gaming turned the ball over at midcourt, leading to a dunk by May to tie it at 93 with 11 seconds left. On the next possession, ShiftyKaii sprinted through the lane and threw down a highlight reel dunk which was matched on the other end with a second to play, pushing the game to overtime 95-95. Defense was optional in the extra period, as there was a basket on nearly every possession, including several three-pointers. However, the Lakers stepped up in the final minute, getting a pair of stops to land a 111-103 win – their first of The Tipoff, Powered by AT&T. Claude finished with 44 points and 19 assists with 11 made three-pointers and May notched a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double for B5. Four players finished with 20 or more points in the contest, with Dvnxsty leading the way with 31 points. ShiftyKaii collected 26 points and 19 assists with just one turnover in the contest.