The NBA 2K League’s 3v3 Switch Open began in-person play on Wednesday, and Lakers Gaming provided plenty of drama for the crowd with a stunning win over the tournament’s top seed.
After falling behind 0-2 to No. 1 Knicks Gaming at District E in Washington, the No. 24 Lakers ripped off three straight wins to take the match 3-2 and advance to the upper bracket’s fourth round.
The Lakers were joined by DUX Infinitos, Bucks Gaming and Celtics Crossover Gaming.
The 25 NBA 2K League teams, who were seeded based on qualifying results the past few weeks, were joined in the double-elimination bracket phase of the $150,000 event by seven community (amateur) teams. Each match is best-of-five.
In-person play began Wednesday with 12 teams remaining in the field — eight in the upper bracket and four in the lower bracket. The champion will be crowned on Saturday, with the winner taking home $60,000 and the runner-up getting $30,000.
The Bucks, the event’s No. 2 seed, also pulled off a reverse sweep, taking down No. 23 Nets GC 3-2. Fourth-seeded DUX Infinitos beat No. 5 Pacers Gaming 3-2, and the 11-seeded Celtics upset third-seeded Pistons GT 3-1 in the day’s only match not to go to five games.
Wednesday’s four losers will play elimination games Thursday in the lower-bracket fourth round. The fifth round will also happen Thursday, with the fourth-round winners facing off in a pair of games.
The Knicks play No. 19 Magic Gaming, the Pacers face No. 9 Cavs Legion GC, the Pistons go up against seventh-seeded T-Wolves Gaming and the Nets take on No. 8 NBL Oz Gaming.
Thursday’s elimination games are also big in terms of money, as the four losers will finish out of the money while the winners are guaranteed a payout.
–Field Level Media