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It was a closer game than the score might indicate, but Blazers5 Gaming are now 2-0 at THE TIPOFF after securing a 73-59 win over Magic Gaming on Thursday.

The action was muted to begin the first quarter, as both teams seemed to play passive to start. Other than a variety of transition baskets, namely from Blazers5 power forward Dat Boy Shotz, each team mixed in a variety of low post looks with not much success. Still, it was enough to give Blazers5 Gaming a 19-13 lead to end the first quarter, with Shotz contributing 12 points – at least 8 of which resulted from fast break dunks.

It was the Marley2135 show in the second quarter, as the Magic Gaming center went on a ridiculous run, totaling 18 points and eight boards by the end of the first half. The fifth-round pick in the 2018 NBA 2K League Draft was a force to be reckoned with in the paint, finishing near the rim when given the opportunity and securing a handful of defensive rebounds which directly led to fast break baskets.

The one-dimensional attack became a bit predictable in the second half, however, as the three headed monster of Blazer5 Gaming reared its head. Whether it was Mama Im Dat Man, who finished the contest with 22 points and 13 assists, OneWildNut who also secured a double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds, or the aforementioned Dat Boy Shotz, Blazer5 Gaming got hot in the second half, scoring 40 points on 18-of-23 shooting.

While Marley2135 would go on to finish the team’s second game with an impressive 25 points, eight rebounds and three steals, none of the remaining Magic Gaming members would score more than 10 points in what quickly turned into a big victory for Portland.