RotoWire – Juan Pablo Aravena

Knicks Gaming and NetsGC played a tightly contested three-game series Tuesday, but in the end, the Nets came from behind after a Game 1 defeat to earn a 2-1 series victory.

The Knicks got off to a better start and jumped out to a 20-15 lead in the first quarter, and they would extend that advantage to a six-point lead at the halftime break. The Nets would pull two points back following an impressive start to the second half, but they were not able to maintain that intensity in the final quarter. The Knicks tightened things up, and they repeated what they did at the beginning of the game to win the final quarter by a 20-14 score. In other words, the Knicks closed things out to earn a 75-65 Game 1 victory.

Duck and OriginalMalik paced the Knicks in Game 1 — while the point guard (Duck) ended with 26 points and 11 assists, the small forward (Malik) chipped in with 23 points and seven dimes of his own. CantGuardRob delivered a 12-point, 18-rebound double-double. As for the Nets, Choc had 28 points and 10 assists, while Shuttles registered 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Game 2 of the series got off to a tighter start and, in fact, the Nets built a one-point lead after one (17-16) and created a six-point lead at halftime (38-32). The Knicks responded with a strong third quarter (23-13) and were up by four entering the final minutes (55-51), but NetsGC delivered an impressive comeback in the final minutes. NetsGC won the final quarter by a 21-14, and that allowed them to earn a three-point Game 2 victory. NetsGC forced a decisive Game 3 with a 72-69 win.

Four Nets scored in double digits in this one, and Choc led the way with 28 points and 12 assists. Potts notched 15 points, while Shuttles filled the stat sheet with a 16-point, 17-rebound, two-assist performance. Duck carried the Knicks in Game 2, as he finished with 37 points while shooting 17-of-23 from the field, and OriginalMalik supported him well with 19 points and six dimes. No other Knick scored in double digits in this one, though.

The Nets carried the momentum of their Game 2 comeback into the decisive matchup of the series — that was reflected in their 22-14 first-quarter score. They extended that lead even further in both the second (15-14) and third (15-13) quarters, creating an 11-point edge heading into the final six minutes of action. The Knicks saved the best for last and won the final quarter by a 19-15 score, but that wasn’t enough. The Nets completed the comeback and won the series 2-1 after notching a 67-60 Game 3 victory.

Choc notched 29 points and 12 assists, and he made 14 of his 20 field-goal attempts in Game 3. Randomz had 13 points, while Shuttles notched another double-double thanks to 14 points and 12 rebounds. Duck led the way for the Knicks with 42 points, five assists and four steals, but he also committed seven turnovers. CantGuardRob only finished with six points, but he pulled down 12 rebounds.

This was a pivotal win for the Nets, as they’re now 8-7 and remain alive in the playoff race. The eighth seed, Bucks Gaming, are 8-6.