– RotoWire –

Jazz Gaming rallied past Wizards District Gaming 68-65 on Day 2 of THE TIPOFF, overcoming an early game deficit to lock up the win.

The opening moments of the game saw Jazz Gaming succumb to the defense and fast pace of Wizards District, who took an early 7-2 lead. Jazz Gaming seemed to take the early push in stride, however, sticking close with the Wizards all throughout the first quarter. This ended up being the story of the entire game as the Wizards seemed to be one step ahead, but just couldn’t shake Jazz Gaming.

With the No. 3 overall pick, Yeah I Compete, in tow, Jazz Gaming were vocal and boisterous all throughout the contest. Their high-octane and extremely communicative style was evident, as no matter the situation, they continued to show resolve throughout the first half. For all the runs the Wizards made in the first three quarters, they held a narrow three-point lead heading into the final frame.

To begin the pivotal quarter, Tifeworld strolled down the court and drained a three to tie the game at 57. This set up a tug-of-war as the teams traded haymakers in the fourth quarter, with the Jazz gaining some real momentum on the back of the stellar play of Smoove. Despite being drafted in the fifth round of the inaugural NBA 2K League Draft, Smoove was easily the most impactful player for Jazz Gaming, putting up 21 points on 10/10 shooting, including some clutch buckets down the stretch. The points were well and good, but it was Smoove’s game-clinching steal in the final seconds of the game that capped off Jazz Gaming’s 18-8 run that sealed their first win at THE TIPOFF.