Milwaukee Bucks Gaming let one slip against Nets GC
By Adam McGee
Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA 2K League affiliate Bucks Gaming let a winnable series slip in a crucial clash with Nets GC on Tuesday night.
It was a night to forget for Bucks Gaming on Tuesday, not so much for how poorly they played, but for how well they played while still coming away with nothing.
In what promises to be a hotly contested race for a playoff spot down the stretch of the season, the smallest margins could prove decisive. On that front, the Milwaukee Bucks’ gaming affiliate let a vital game, that was there for the taking, to slip away from them against Nets GC.
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With nine teams slated to make the playoffs from the regular season standings, along with the winner of The Ticket tournament later in the season, Bucks GG entered Tuesday’s clash at 8th in the standings, with Nets GC at 9th, and both teams holding a 5-4 record.
The Bucks started brilliantly in a continuation of their recent form, rushing out to an early lead in the first game of the best of 3 match. By half time, they led by 13 and looked to be in complete command.
But that control would loosen up significantly in the third quarter as the Nets outscored Milwaukee 24-13 to set up a tense final period.
Still, with a lead in their hands, the Bucks were exactly where they needed to be. With offense bogging down for both teams in the lowest scoring quarter of the game, the Bucks’ 3-point lead with 90 seconds remaining seemed like a particularly strong position to be in.
Even stronger was their two-point lead with 2.2 seconds remaining after a mid-range jumper from Arooks, but June’s Player of the Month Choc had other ideas, drilling a game-winning triple for the Nets with just 0.2 seconds on the clock.
WHAT. A. FINISH! @NetsGamingCrew vs @BucksGG Round 1 went down to the wire, and @choc, fresh off his Player of the Month honor, did his thing to seal it at the very end! 😎 pic.twitter.com/F17QAUk8eg
— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) July 8, 2020
To Milwaukee’s credit, they bounced back from that knockout punch to put in a stellar performance in Game 2.
Arooks led the way in scoring with 21 points, with Regg close behind on 18 points and 10 assists, while Squidris (16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals) and Plondo (14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals) stuffed the stat sheet from the frontcourt.
That led to a comfortable 74-67 win to set up a Game 3 decider.
Through a back and forth first quarter, it was clear that neither side was going to roll over in the decider, with the Nets ultimately taking a 15-14 lead into the fourth. Another close period saw the Nets lead stretch to five points at the half, but it was the third quarter when the wheels started to come off for the Bucks.
A 26-13 quarter from the Brooklyn squad left the Bucks facing an 18-point deficit, essentially sealing the win a quarter early.
It finished 74-61, with Brooklyn taking the series 2-1.
Bucks Gaming beat CLTX Gaming, make 2K League history. dark. Next
The Bucks will be back at it on Thursday night, looking to bounce back in a tough matchup against Jazz Gaming.