Rotowire

After a dramatic win over Blazer5 Gaming that went to overtime in the third game of the series, Raptors Gaming GC couldn’t have asked for a better matchup in a quick turnaround. Celtics Crossover Gaming entered Friday’s game at 0-6, and they faced a steep uphill battle against a Toronto team that has excelled on both sides of the ball with stifling defense and unmatched offensive firepower. The Celtics lineup lacks a true shooter to complement oFAB, and that deficiency was patently clear once again as the Celtics lost their seventh straight game.

The Raptors got to work early and started to put the game out of reach before the final buzzer of the first quarter, sporting a convincing 25-12 lead right off the bat. Toronto shot an eye-popping 69 percent from the floor in the first frame. The Raptors piled on even more points in the second quarter and had a commanding 47-23 lead at the half. Behind Timelycook and ReeceMode, Raptors Uprising went 6-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Things went from bad to worse for Boston in the third quarter, as Toronto went on an incredible 17-0 run to begin the frame. That streak resulted in a 33-point quarter for the Raptors and the 107-point record looked to be within reach, as the third stanza ended with a score of 80-35.

The only pressing question remaining in this game was whether or not the Raptors could get the NBA2K league record for points scored, and they achieved it with seconds remaining in the final frame. With the 109-51 win, the Raptors broke the previous record of 107 points. Timelycook proved to be deadly from the corner in Game 1, drilling six threes on the way to a team-high 38 points. Kenny Got Work recorded the rarest of triple-doubles with 34 points, 13 assists and 10 steals. He wasn’t the only player who notched triple-double glory, as Sick One posted 10 points, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. The most glaring statistic in the game was the turnover count for Boston, as they coughed up the ball a total of 29 times.

The Celtics kept things close in the first quarter of Game 2 and managed Toronto’s scoring machine more effectively. The first frame ended with Boston trailing, 16-12. oFAB’s 22 first-half points helped keep Boston within striking distance, as they only trailed by five points at halftime. Boston’s tactic of slowing down the game yielded some positive results, and Toronto held a six-point advantage heading into the final frame. Despite improved defensive success from the the Celtics, they proved to be no match for the Toronto offense and lost Game 2, 64-54. The slower pace of Game 2 resulted in a much more balanced attack from the Raptors, with four of five starters scoring in double digits. oFAB led all scorers with 42 points, but committed nine turnovers. Kenny Got Work was the top scorer for the Raptors with an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.

Celtics Crossover Gaming (0-7) will play Jazz Gaming and Mavs Gaming in Day 1 of next week’s Tip-Off tournament, while Raptors Uprising GC (8-0) will face Lakers Gaming and Blazer5 Gaming in Day 2.