PACERS GAMING GETS FIRST TWO WINS OF SEASON – THE SLAM 3V3
March 16, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS (March 15, 2023) – Utilizing its fifth different starting lineup of the young season, Pacers Gaming captured its first two series of the NBA 2K League SLAM OPEN Tournament Group Play Wednesday night, defeating Australia’s NBL Oz Gaming team (which came into the contest 3-1), 3-2 in the best-of-five series and then sweeping Nets GC, 3-0 (21-17, 22-16, 21-17). Each series is best of five with the first team to 21 points winning, but must win by two points. The Blue & Gold will play their fifth series in three days on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m., taking on Lakers Gaming.
The new lineup got off to a great start, winning the first two games against Australia. CHESS (Kory Taylor) led the way in Game 1 with 11 points and three assists while both JAYSNAGS (Julio Laboy) and BIG REIGN (Blaine Wilson) each netted six points. BIG REIGN added four rebounds and CHESS and JAYSNAGS each dished out three assists as the Pacers won 23-20. JYDEN led Oz with nine points. JAYSNAGS went five-for-five and scored 10 points the 22-17 Game 2 triumph. CHESS added nine points and three assists. LAWRICH led Oz with 11 points. Australia battled back to take Game 3, 22-14 as JYDEN went for 12 points. JAYSNAGS had eight and CHESS added six in the losing effort for Indiana. NBL Oz Gaming tied the series at two games apiece with a 21-14 victory in Game 4 as JYDEN scored 14. CHESS led Indiana with seven. But the Pacers showed resolve and resiliency with a dramatic series-clinching 22-17 victory in Game 5. CHESS was six-for-six enroute to 12 points. BIG REIGN added six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Pacers wasted no time in the nightcap, taking Game 1 from the Nets, 21-17 as CHESS continued his fine play with 11 points and three assists. BIG REIGN chipped in with eight tallies. GREENS led Brooklyn with 12 points. CHESS and BIG REIGN each scored nine points in the 22-16 Game 2 conquest. GREENS had 15 for the Nets. The Pacers completed the impressive sweep with a 21-17 win in Game 3 as CHESS was six-of-six from the field for 13 points. BIG REIGN and JAYSNAGS each scored four. GREENS had 11 for the Nets.
