Week 1 of action wrapped up in the 2020 NBA 2K League season, with the Milwaukee Bucks’ Bucks Gaming sliding to 0-2 in the standings.
After losing their opening matchup of the NBA 2K League season against Magic Gaming on Wednesday night, Bucks Gaming could have done without a matchup with T-Wolves Gaming, the league’s defending champs, being next up on the schedule.
Still, the T-Wolves had suffered their own setback to start the new campaign, falling to a loss against Hawks Talon GC on Thursday. If anything, that just seemed to increase the urgency for both teams heading into this contest.
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Unfortunately, that didn’t ultimately play to the advantage of the Milwaukee Bucks’ affiliate. For the second matchup in a row, the Bucks found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 loss in the best-of-three series.
With a slight tweak from Wednesday’s losses, Bucks Gaming lined up with Regg as a Slashing Sharpshooter at point guard, Squidris at the 2 spot as a 2-Way Sharpshooter, Arooks as a 3 Level Scorer on the wing, Ty as a Glass Cleaner at power forward, and Plondo as a 2-Way Athletic Finisher at center.
In a theme that would continue throughout both of Friday’s games, the Bucks’ halfcourt offense was a little stuck in the mud in Game 1. Regg again continued his strong start to his rookie season, but his 24 points and five assists were far from enough in their own right to drive the Bucks forward. Squidris did his part with 14 points scored off-ball, but Arooks struggled to get anything going with just 11 points.
Plondo managed to score just four points at center, but did great work defensively in coming up with 13 rebounds, five blocks and three steals. Unfortunately for him, he was on the wrong end of the game’s two most notable storylines, though.
Former Sixer FEAST put in the first of two phenomenal rebounding efforts as he collected 20 rebounds, along with 10 points and three blocks in Game 1 against Plondo. But it was BearDaBeast who really stole the headlines, as last year’s Finals MVP poured in 37 points and uncorked one of the nastiest poster dunks the 2K League has ever seen, clearing Plondo on his way to the rim.
🐻POSTER🐻 pic.twitter.com/kiRBmPMNhN
— T-Wolves Gaming (@TWolvesGaming) May 8, 2020
Game 1 finished 75-65 in the T-Wolves’ favor, leaving the Bucks facing a must-win Game 2.
Sadly, things didn’t really improve for Milwaukee from there.
A closely fought first half certainly boosted their hopes of coming away with a Game 2 victory, but things quickly got away from Milwaukee in the second quarter.
BearDaBeast again drove Minnesota forward with 30 points and eight assists, while FEAST racked up an almost comical 12 points, 24 rebounds, and six assists.
Regg delivered 34 points and six assists, Plondo grabbed 15 boards, and Squidris again drilled in shots to come up with 14 points, but another quiet game from Arooks (eight points) points to the larger problems the Bucks still need to work out.
A late flurry of made triples was too late to make any impact on the outcome of the game, but Bucks Gaming will hope it acts as evidence of a positive breakthrough that could spur them on in future matchups.
With a 71-61 win, the T-Wolves wrapped up their first match victory of the season, and the Bucks slid to 0-2.
Next up for the Bucks is a Tuesday night matchup with Cavs Legion Gaming, who’ve started the season 1-1.