PACERS GAMING LOOKS AHEAD TO 5V5 SEASON

INDIANAPOLIS (May 6, 2023) – Pacers Gaming’s 3v3 NBA 2K League season came to a stunning end Saturday night in Washington, D.C. as Magic Gaming eliminated the Blue & Gold from the league’s STEAL Tournament with a 3-2 best-of-five series victory in the quarterfinal round.  The Pacers were hoping to advance to the championship game later Saturday night which would have secured a spot for Indiana in the 3v3 league playoffs next week.  After an 0-5 start to the year, Indiana finishes 2023 with an overall 3v3 mark of 14-12.  The Pacers were 17-7 in 3v3 last season.  Coach Cody Parrent and Co. will open their 5v5 season on May 24 against Bucks Gaming.  The league’s 5v5 season will run from May 23 through August 5 and feature a more traditional conference-play set up.  It will have the popular TIPOFF, TURN and TICKET tournaments in addition to usual playoffs and championship rounds.

On Saturday night Magic Gaming made an improbable comeback in taking Game 1, 22-19.  Down 11-17, Orlando outscored Indiana 11-2 down the stretch to get the victory.  The Magic held an 8-3 rebounding advantage in the contest.  UNGUARDABLE led Orlando with 18 points on eight-of-11 shooting. CHESS (Kory Taylor) led Indiana with 14 tallies on six-of-eight shooting.  The Pacers tied the series with a 22-17 victory in Game 2 on BIG REIGN’s (Blaine Wilson) three pointer.  He finished as the game’s high scorer with 13 points on six-of-six shooting.  CHESS scored three and dished out a team-record eight assists.  JAYSNAGS (Julio Laboy) was three-for-three enroute to six points.  The Pacers held Orlando to only one rebound in the game.  The Magic were led by UNGUARDABLE with 10 points.

Indiana jumped to a 2-1 series edge with a thrilling 25-21 Game 3 win as JAYSNAGS nailed a three for the game winner.  Indiana trailed 16-19 late but fought back to take the victory.  CHESS had 14 points and five assists for the Pacers while JAYSNAGS finished with nine points and three rebounds.  UNGUARDABLE had 15 points for the Magic.  Facing elimination, the Magic stormed back and outscored Indiana 16-7 down the stretch to win Game 4, 21-17 as UNGUARDABLE netted 12 points.  CHESS (eight points) and JAYSNAGS (seven points) led Indiana.  In the deciding Game 5, Orlando held the Pacers (who had 11 3s in the first four games) to NO three pointers in a 22-14 series-clinching victory.  UNGUARDABLE led the Magic with 12 points.  JAYSNAGS scored six for Indiana while CHESS and BIG REIGN each netted four points.