Trio of stunners as NBA 2K League's Slam Open playoffs start
A trio of community teams took down professional teams -- including the second seed of the tournament -- as the first round of the NBA 2K League's 3v3 Slam Open playoffs got underway Tuesday.
With 28 of the 32 playoff teams in action, No. 31 seed Glitchy pulled off the stunner of the day, takingdown second-seeded DUX Infinitos 3-2. Top-seeded Bucks Gaming, the only team to go unbeaten in group play, did drop one game but ultimately got by 32nd-seeded XSET Gaming 3-1.
The playoffs open as a best-of-five, double-elimination format, with the opening rounds played remotely through Friday. 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.
All 25 professional teams advanced to the playoffs, with group play records determining seeding. The top seven teams from the community (amateur) competition filled out the final seven seeds.
The other two community teams to win their playoff openers were 29th-seeded Handlez, a 3-2 winner over No. 4 Warriors Gaming Squad, and No. 27 G1 Longhorns, who topped sixth-seeded NBL OZ Gaming 3-1.
The Longhorns have to wait to find out their second-round opponent as the final two first-round games will be played Wednesday. The other team still waiting for an opponent is the No. 3 seed Knicks Gaming, the second-highest seed to win, 3-0 over No. 30 Dot Squad.
No. 5 Cavs Legion GC were the other top-five seed to win, taking down the No. 28 Ankle Breakers with a sweep, as well.
In terms of seeding, the other upset winner was No. 18 Raptors Uprising GC, 3-1 winners over 15th-seeded Lakers Gaming.
Sixteenth-seeded Pistons GC won and will face the Bucks, while the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds -- Jazz Gaming and 76ers GC, respectively -- won and will face one another in Round 2.
Hawks Talon GC, seeded 13th, will face Handlez next, while Grizz Gaming will play Cavs Legion in the second round. Wizards District Gaming (No. 7) and NetsGC (No. 10) were the other winners, and they will play each other in the next round.
NBA 2K League 3v3 Slam Open
First-round results (Tuesday)
No. 1 Bucks Gaming 3, No. 32 XSET Gaming 1
No. 16 Pistons GT 3, No. 17 Celtics Crossover Gaming 0
No. 8 Jazz Gaming 3, No. 25 Kings Guard Gaming 1
No. 9 76ers GC 3, No. 24 Magic Gaming 1
No. 29 Handlez 3, No. 4 Warriors Gaming Squad 2
No. 13 Hawks Talon GC 3, No. 20 Heat Check Gaming 2
No. 5 Cavs Legion GC 3, No. 28 Ankle Breakers 0
No. 12 Grizz Gaming 3, No. 21 Hornets Venom GT 0
No. 31 Glitchy 3, No 2. DUX Infinitos 2
No. 18 Raptors Uprising GC 3, No. 15 Lakers Gaming 1
No. 7 Wizards District Gaming 3, No. 26 Glo Navy Glosquitos 1
No. 10 NetsGC 3, No. 23 Mavs Gaming 2
No. 3 Knicks Gaming 3, No. 30 Dot Squad 0
No. 27 G1 Longhorns 3, No. 6 NBL OZ Gaming 1
First-round matches (Wednesday)
No. 14 Gen.G Tigers vs. No. 19 Pacers Gaming
No. 11 T-Wolves Gaming vs. No. 22 Blazer5 Gaming
Second-round winners-bracket matches
No. 1 Bucks Gaming vs. No. 16 Pistons GT
No. 8 Jazz Gaming vs. No. 9 76ers GC
No. 29 Handlez vs. No. 13 Hawks Talon GC
No. 5 Cavs Legion vs. No. 12 Grizz Gaming
No. 31 Glitchy vs. No. 18 Raptors Uprising GC
No. 7 Wizards District Gaming vs. No. 10 NetsGC
No. 3 Knicks Gaming vs. No. 14 Gen.G Tigers/No. 19 Pacers Gaming winner
No. 27 G1 Longhorns vs. No. 11 T-Wolves Gaming/No. 22 Blazer5 Gaming winner
Second-round losers-bracket games
No. 32 XSET vs. No. 17 Celtics Crossover Gaming
No. 25 Kings Guard Gaming vs. No. 24 Magic Gaming
No. 4 Warriors Gaming Squad vs. No. 20 Heat Check Gaming
No. 28 Ankle Breakers vs. No. 21 Hornets Venom GT
No 2. DUX Infinitos vs. No. 15 Lakers Gaming
No. 26 Glo Navy Glosquitos vs. No. 23 Mavs Gaming
No. 30 Dot Squad vs. No. 14 Gen.G Tigers/No. 19 Pacers Gaming winner
No. 6 NBL OZ Gaming vs. No. 11 T-Wolves Gaming/22 Blazer5 Gaming winner
--Field Level Media