Rotowire

Knicks Gaming steamrolled Magic Gaming in Game 1, in a game that was close during the first quarter but quickly became a one-team show. Knicks Gaming jumped to a 15-13 lead after the first quarter and increased it progressively. They won each of the remaining quarters – 25-11 in the second, 24-8 in the third and 21-16 in the fourth – towards a comfortable 85-48 win. Things were so one-sided at one point that Knicks Gaming came close to double the Magic’s total score early in the fourth quarter. Magic Gaming struggled from the field and shot 18-of-42 from the field, while Knicks Gaming made 34 of their 56 field-goal attempts. The Knicks also went 10-of-19 from three-point range, while the Magic made just eight of their 17 threes.

Duck led Knicks Gaming with an impressive 41-point performance, while also adding five assists and two steals. OriginalMalik went for 18 points, while EhTruth contributed 11 points, seven boards, four assists and three steals. CantGuardRob added 11 points, 13 boards, five steals, three assists and two blocks. Reizey scored just four points for Magic Gaming after shooting 1-of-9 from the field. Djbama paced the losing team in Game 1 with 13 points, while both ToXsiK and May finished with 12 points. The latter also added 14 boards and six assists.

Knicks Gaming carried the momentum of Game 1 towards the second contest of the series, and they quickly jumped to a 14-12 lead following first quarter of Game 2. Magic Gaming showed signs of life, however, and grabbed a three-point lead towards halftime following a 19-14 second quarter. Knicks Gaming, however, didn’t want any surprises heading into the second half. They recovered control of the game with a 22-14 third quarter, but Magic Gaming pulled a comeback out of nowhere. They won the final quarter by a 20-10 score, and that translated to a 65-60 win that forced a Game 3.

Reizey bounced back from a poor showing in Game 1, and he finished with 27 points and 12 assists. Djbama notched 11 points, while May added a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds. Duck finished with 29 points for Knicks Gaming, but he shot 0-for-3 from three-point range. OriginalMalik added 20 points, but no other player from the Knicks scored more than five points. That lack of depth conspired against them in Game 2.

Knicks Gaming started Game 3 looking to dominate once again and, just like it happened in the two previous contests, they went up 16-9 after the first one. Unlike Game 2, and in similar fashion to Game 1, they pulled away as the game progressed and didn’t let the game slip away once again. Knicks Gaming won every quarter separately and cruised their way towards a comfortable 76-54, ultimately earning a 2-1 win in the series.

Just like it happened in the first two games, Duck and OriginalMalik once again carried Knicks Gaming – the point guard finished with 36 points and two assists, while the shooting guard delivered 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting. CantGuardRob might have scored just eight points, but he added 15 rebounds and six assists. Reizey had 23 points for Magic Gaming, and he also added six assists. Profusion chipped in with 10 points, while May posted an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double.