On a night when the top five teams in the standings didn’t play, Pistons GT were the big winners Wednesday during group play at the NBA 2K League’s 3v3 Slam Open.
All five teams that entered the day with 40 or more points were idle on Wednesday. The Pistons, starting the day 2-2, swept their two matches to move into what is now a five-way tie for third at 40 points, with all five teams 4-2 overall.
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.
The Pistons opened play Wednesday with a 3-1 win over the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai and then swept Heat Check Gaming 3-0. Australian outfit NBL Oz Gaming went 1-1 on the day — losing 3-2 to Pacers Gaming and sweeping Raptors Uprising GC — but that one win was good enough to move them into the 40-point logjam, as well.
Despite not playing, the 6-0 Bucks Gaming did become the event’s lone remaining unbeaten as Lakers Gaming took their first loss, 3-2 at the hands of Raptors Uprising. The Lakers did beat NetsGC 3-2 to improve to 3-1 overall.
In other games, T-Wolves Gaming fell to the Heat 3-1 before winning 3-1 over Cavs Legion — who earlier fell to Gen.G in five games. The Pacers also swept the Nets to go 2-0 after opening the tournament with five straight losses.
Group play continues with 14 matches on Thursday.
NBA 2K League 3v3 Slam Open standings
1. Bucks Gaming — 60 points (6-0)
2. DUX Gaming — 50 (5-1)
T3. 76ers GC — 40 (4-2)
T3. Grizz Gaming — 40 (4-2)
T3. Jazz Gaming — 40 (4-2)
T3. NBL Oz Gaming — 40 (4-2)
T3. Pistons GT — 40 (4-2)
T8. Knicks Gaming — 30 (3-1)
T8. Warriors Gaming Squad — 30 (3-1)
T8. Wizards District Gaming — 30 (3-1)
T8. Lakers Gaming — 30 (3-1)
T12. Cavs Legion GC — 30 (3-3)
T12. Hawks Talon GC — 30 (3-3)
T12. Nets GC — 30 (3-3)
T12. Heat Check Gaming — 30 (3-3)
T12. T-Wolves Gaming — 30 (3-3)
17. Raptors Uprising GC — 30 (3-4)
T18. Celtics Crossover Gaming — 20 (2-4)
T18. Mavs Gaming — 20 (2-4)
T18. Gen.G Tigers — 20 (2-4)
21. Pacers Gaming — 20 (2-5)
22. Magic Gaming — 10 (1-3)
23. Blazer5 Gaming — 0 (0-4)
T24. Hornets Venom GT — 0 (0-6)
T24. Kings Guard Gaming — 0 (0-6)
–Field Level Media