Take a look back at the week that was in the NBA 2K League with a collection of some of the best games, performances, highlights and more from around the 2KL world.

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Games of the Week

T-Wolves Gaming 56, Blazer5 Gaming 53: The scenario for T-Wolves Gaming was a simple one: win and you’re in. When BearDaBeast23 broke down his defender and found an open TURNUPDEFENSE for a corner 3-pointer with 0.2 seconds left to break a tied game, the mission was achieved. The win was Minny’s seventh straight in a remarkable late-season run that gives the squad the distinction of being the lone expansion franchise to make the postseason. The loss didn’t affect Blazer5 Gaming in the standings, as they will enter the playoffs as the top seed, but it did halt their 14-game winning streak.

Grizz Gaming 58, Magic Gaming 45: This one was personal. Traded by Magic Gaming midway through the season, KelMav was on a mission to spoil his former team’s season. He and Grizz Gaming did just that, blowing things open in the second quarter in not looking back. The win, which was their second of the week and third in a row overall, kept them in contention for the final playoff spot for another day. While they ultimately didn’t make it in, they can relish having played the role of spoiler in ending Orlando’s hopes of heading to the postseason in the process. 

Pacers Gaming 81, Celtics Crossover Gaming 69: Pacers Gaming entered the week knowing two wins would assure them a spot in the playoffs. Their most challenging opponent of the two were Celtics Crossover Gaming, who were riding an eight-game winning streak. A strong second half helped them pull away for the win and breathe a tad easier (Indy would clinch the eighth and final berth after beating Nets GC the following day). For CLTX Gaming, the loss didn’t hurt them as they learned just prior to tip-off that they were headed to the postseason regardless of the outcome.

Pistons GT 108, Heat Check Gaming 69: Why did a matchup that literally had no implications on the playoffs make the cut? Well, because as far as pure fun goes, it might be hard to top this one as the two teams combined for 177 points. Shoutout to Pistons GT, who let loose in snapping their 13-game losing streak while setting a new league record for points in a game. They also just missed becoming the first team to have two players go for triple-doubles in the same game (Joseph got his while DevGoss came one steal shy of achieving the feat). Pistons GT finished the campaign at the bottom of the standings, but still closed things out in style.

Outstanding Performances

ZDS, 76ers GC (52 points, 14 3FGM) and oCASSIUS (36 points, 10 3FGM, 10 rebounds) vs Cavs Legion GC: During a week when records were falling left and right, ZDS reclaimed his spot as the single-game scoring leader (he held the mark earlier in the year) with an insane shooting performance. Right there alongside of him was Cassius, who exploded for a huge double-double in his very first action of the season.

KingQuai614, Raptors Uprising GC (10 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 11 steals) vs Knicks Gaming: It finally happened. On the second-to-last day of the regular season, Quai notched the league’s first triple-double of the season. He also broke the single-game steals mark in the process.

Joseph, Pistons GT (18 points, 29 rebounds, 14 assists) and DevGoss (32 points, 11 assists, 9 steals) vs Heat Check Gaming: One day after Quai notched the first triple-double, Joseph followed suit with a monsterous line in his squad’s blowout victory. He set a new league record for rebounds in a game while also dishing out 14 dimes from the center position. Dev came just shy of his own triple-double, nailing 8 treys in the offensive onslaught.

ReeseDaGod, Wizards District Gaming (49 points, 6 assists, 4 steals) vs Hawks Talon GC: In a week full of high-scoring performances, Reese held the crown momentarily. He just missed hitting the 50-point plateau, but had a huge output nonetheless on an impressive 21 of 27 shooting.

Swizurk, Pacers Gaming (32 points, 9 3FGM) vs Celtics Crossover Gaming and (27 points, 7 3FGM) vs Nets GC: Welcome back, Swizurk. Returning to his natural spot as a spot-up shooter after spending some time in recent weeks at point guard, he busted loose for 16 total 3-pointers en route to 59 points in a pair of wins that clinched Pacers Gaming’s playoff spot.

Ria, Jazz Gaming (41 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks) vs Lakers Gaming: The top pick in this year’s draft was yet another player who put up some big scoring numbers this week. Ria broke the 40-point barrier in an all-around impressive statline to help close his rookie campaign on a high note.

BearDaBeast23, T-Wolves Gaming (15 points, 12 assists) vs Blazer5 Gaming: Not only did Bear put together one of his steadiest performances of the season in his team’s biggest game to date, but he also made the biggest play of the week. His pass to TURNUPDEFENSE for the game-winning 3-pointer pushed sent T-Wolves Gaming dancing.

Bp, Kings Guard Gaming (46 points, 6 assists, 7 3FGM) vs Jazz Gaming: In the last game of his regular season, Bp put on a show. He set what at the moment was the season scoring mark in putting a final stamp on his candidacy for MVP and Rookie of the Year, despite it coming in a loss for playoff-bound Sacramento.

Vandi, Grizz Gaming (20.5 PPG, 8.5 APG) and Authentic African (12.5 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 5.0 APG, 3.0 SPG) vs Warriors Gaming Squad and Magic Gaming: The Grizz Gaming duo more than did their part in trying to help their squad sneak into the playoffs. They spurred Memphis to a win in the opener and followed up by completing the doubleheader sweep to spoil Magic Gaming’s season. Alas, Grizz Gaming finished as the first team outside of the playoffs.

Must-See Plays

Turn it up!

.@Turnupdefense sends @TWolvesGaming to the playoffs!!! pic.twitter.com/YSmgHKoEmc

— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) July 17, 2019

 

ZDS gets buckets.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague/status/1152609113492168706?s=20

 

Call him Mr. Triple-Double.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague/status/1152023494630072320?s=20

 

Sharing is caring.

SHOWTIME! pic.twitter.com/9NGWokGZuC

— PistonsGT (@PistonsGT) July 19, 2019

 

This dunk was personal.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague/status/1151986596876394496?s=20

 

Ohh, Mama.

https://twitter.com/blazer5gaming/status/1151621420637491200?s=20

 

Just a casual self alley-oop.

https://twitter.com/nba2kleague/status/1152393460835651584?s=21

 

Goofy gets up.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague/status/1151636153335996416?s=20

 

The sauce and the slam.

https://twitter.com/KingsGuardGG/status/1151680779321167872?s=20

 

Beware the Wolfman.

https://twitter.com/NBA2KLeague/status/1152342351278419971?s=20

Fun with Numbers

6 — Consecutive losses by eighth-seeded Warriors Gaming Squad heading into the postseason

 

11 — Steals by Raptors Uprising GC’s KingQuai614 vs Knicks Gaming to set a new league record

26 — Assists by Radiant in 76ers GC’s win vs Cavs Legion GC to tie the league’s single-game mark

29 — Rebounds by Pistons GT’s Joseph, a new single-game league record

52 — Points by 76ers GC’s ZDS vs Cavs Legion GC, a new league high this season

108 — Points by Pistons GT in their win against Heat Check Gaming to set a new single-game record

Tweet of the Week

https://twitter.com/BearDaBeast23/status/1152406998207647745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Quotables

“I’m just speechless right now, I can’t believe we did it. We were down the whole game, they trusted me with the last shot and I knocked it down. — T-Wolves Gaming’s TURNUPDEFENSE following his game-winner against Blazer5 Gaming that clinched a playoff berth.

“It’s just a great feeling beating my old team. They thought I was the problem, obviously. I got traded and now I’m on the Grizz, and we just knocked them out of the playoffs.” — Grizz Gaming’s KelMav had revenge on his mind against his former Magic Gaming squad.

“Very relieved. It was very nerve-racking because there were a lot of scenarios if we would have lost one of these games, and we ended up putting it in our hands and we did our job.” — Pacers Gaming’s Swizurk was breathing easier after helping his team grab the league’s eighth and final playoff berth.