Heat Check Gaming ended group play at the NBA 2K League’s The Turn event in style Friday, crushing fellow unbeaten Cavs Legion GC and entering the bracket rounds as the only 6-0 team in the field.
All but one of the league’s 25 teams played on Friday as the final group-play standings determine seeding for the tournament phase of The Turn. By finishing 6-0, the Heat won Group 1 out of the Eastern Conference.
The Heat jumped all over the Cavs early, ending the first quarter with a 24-8 lead. Kennedy “Sawc” Tauala Jr. posted a triple-double in the win, collecting 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. KyJuan “HoodieKy” Johnson scored a game-high 33 points in the win.
The Turn, which carries a $160,000 prize pool, is the second of three tournaments that lead up to the NBA 2K League 5v5 Playoffs that run June 26-29. Last month, Warriors Gaming Squad won The Tipoff. The Turn runs through June 15, and the final tournament, The Ticket, will be contested on June 18 and 22.
Group 1 also featured The Turn’s only two winless teams entering Friday, and that game was also a blowout as NBL Oz Gaming beat Hornets Venom GT 84-53. Harry “HarryVZN” Spierings led NBL Oz with 37 points on 14-of-18 shooting (9 of 11 on 3-point attempts).
Entering the night at 4-1, Celtics Crossover Gaming could have won Group 2 with a win but instead fell to Raptors Uprising GC 69-64. With Magic Gaming beating 76ers GC 65-62 and Hawks Talon GC the one team on a bye having already completed six games, the Group 2 finished with all three teams tied at the top at 4-2.
The Western Conference saw a pair of teams finish group play at 5-1, with Pacers Gaming and Warriors Gaming both winning to finish atop Group 3 and Group 4, respectively. The Pacers edged Mavs Gaming 58-56 while the Warriors thumped Grizz Gaming 98-71.
In other games Friday, Jazz Gaming beat Pistons GT 82-79, T-Wolves Gaming topped Lakers Gaming 89-79, Bucks Gaming got by Blazer5 Gaming 69-64, Knicks Gaming hammered Wizards District Gaming 99-67, Nets GC blasted Gen.G Tigers 83-55, and Kings Guard Gaming squeaked by DUX Infinitos 82-80.
Up next is in-person bracket play at District E in Washington beginning on Wednesday.
NBA 2K League’s The Turn group-play standings
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Group 3
Pacers Gaming (5-1)
T-Wolves Gaming (4-2)
Blazer5 Gaming (3-3)
Bucks Gaming (3-3)
Mavs Gaming (3-3)
Lakers Gaming (1-5)
Group 4
Warriors Gaming Squad (5-1)
Kings Guard Gaming (4-2)
Pistons GT (4-2)
Grizz Gaming (2-4)
Jazz Gaming (2-4)
DUX Infinitos (1-5)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Group 1
Heat Check Gaming (6-0)
Cavs Legion GC (5-1)
Wizards District Gaming (3-3)
Knicks Gaming (3-3)
NBL Oz Gaming (1-5)
Hornets Venom GT (0-6)
Group 2
Celtics Crossover Gaming (4-2)
Hawks Talon GC (4-2)
Magic Gaming (4-2)
76ers GC (3-3)
Raptors Uprising GC (3-3)
Gen.G Tigers (2-4)
NetsGC (2-4)
–Field Level Media
