Bucks Gaming went 2-0 on Thursday, completed a perfect run through group play at the NBA 2K League’s 3v3 Slam Open with one day of play still left before the playoffs begin.
In beating Kings Guard Gaming and Jazz Gaming by 3-1 scores, the Bucks finished group play with the maximum-possible 80 points (an 8-0 record) and locked up first place in the standings, as every other team has at least one loss.
Group play in the 25-team event runs through Friday, with each team playing eight group games. At the end of group play, the teams will be seeded as part of the 32-team Slam Open playoffs (seven community teams will fill out the rest of the bracket).
The playoffs will start out as best-of-five and double elimination, with the first rounds played remotely from Tuesday through March 24. The final 12 teams will then face off in-person from March 29-April 1 in Washington. Those matches will be best-of-five but single elimination.
DUX Infinitos swept Grizz Gaming in their only game of the day to improving to 6-1, giving them 60 points and the inside track on second place. A win over 76ers GC on Friday would give DUX 70 points.
The only other team with a shot at 70 points is Warriors Gaming Squad. With two wins Thursday — 3-1 over Blazer5 Gaming and 3-2 over Wizards District Gaming — the Warriors stand at 50 points but have two matches to play on Friday.
In other action Thursday, Lakers Gaming went 0-2 (a sweep at the hands of Pacers Gaming and a 3-1 loss to NetsGC) to fall to 3-3 after a 3-0 start to the week. That was one of two wins for the Nets (a 3-1 win over NBL Oz Gaming the other), who jumped into a three-way tie at 50 points with the Jazz and Warriors.
The Wizards beat Knicks Gaming in four to split their matches for the day, while the Knicks did the same in beating Magic Gaming 3-2 in their second game. The Magic followed that up with an even worse loss, getting swept by Blazer5 for Blazer5’s first win of the tournament.
While Blazer5 finally broke through, the Kings finished the event 0-8 after losing 3-1 to Hawks Talon Gaming. Hornets Venom GT is 0-6 and plays twice on Friday.
Celtics Crossover Gaming went 1-1 on the day, beating the Hawks 3-1 and losing 3-2 to the Jazz.
NBA 2K League 3v3 Slam Open standings
1. Bucks Gaming – 80 points (8-0)
2. DUX Infinitos — 60 (6-1)
3. Warriors Gaming Squad — 50 (5-1)
t4. Jazz Gaming — 50 (5-3)
t4. Nets GC — 50 (5-3)
t6. 76ers GC — 40 (4-2)
t6. Knicks Gaming — 40 (4-2)
t6. Pistons GT — 40 (4-2)
t6. Wizards District Gaming — 40 (4-2)
t10. Grizz Gaming — 40 (4-3)
t10. NBL Oz Gaming — 40 (4-3)
12. Hawks Talon GC — 40 (4-4)
t13. Cavs Legion GC — 30 (3-3)
t13. Heat Check Gaming — 30 (3-3)
t13. Lakers Gaming — 30 (3-3)
t13. T-Wolves Gaming — 30 (3-3)
17. Raptors Uprising GC — 30 (3-4)
t18. Celtics Crossover Gaming — 30 (3-5)
t18. Pacers Gaming — 30 (3-5)
t20. Gen.G Tigers — 20 (2-4)
t20. Mavs Gaming — 20 (2-4)
t22. Blazer5 Gaming — 10 (1-5)
t22. Magic Gaming — 10 (1-5)
24. Hornets Venom GT — 0 (0-6)
25. Kings Guard Gaming — 0 (0-8)
–Field Level Media