PACERS GAMING SWEEPS LAKERS GAMING – THE SLAM 3V3
March 16, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS – (March 16, 2023) – Two days ago Pacers Gaming head coach Cody Parrent thought it was time for some “March Madness” 2K -style. He tried his fifth-different starting lineup in the young season as the NBA 2K League 3v3 SLAM OPEN Tournament Group Play continued, and Indiana swept two series on Wednesday night. On Thursday, the Blue & Gold wasted no time in winning its third straight series – a 3-0 sweep over Lakers Gaming (a team that beat the Pacers in five games just three days before). Indiana, now 3-5 in the tournament will await league seeding for whom and when it will play next week as the event continues to the next stage. Each 3v3 series consists of a best-of-five format; first team to 21 wins; but must win by two points.
“This is so rewarding for our team,” said Evansville native Parrent. “It is so encouraging to see five players so involved while only three are actually playing. This is a team that believes in each other and plays for each other. Hey, it’s Indiana basketball; what more can I say.”
The Pacers stormed out to an early lead in Game 1 against the Lakers and never looked back. CHESS (Kory Taylor) – who had the game winning shot in all of Thursday’s games – led the Pacers with nine points and a season-high tying five assists. JAYSNAGS (Julio Laboy) was four-for-five from the field enroute to eight points and BIG REIGN (Blaine Wilson) had five points in the 22-20 triumph. RYAN1on1 had 15 for Los Angeles. In Game 2, the Lakers took an early lead and led most of the game before a late-game surge pushed Indiana to a 22-16 conquest. CHESS led the way with 12 points and dished three assists. BIG REIGN scored six points to go along with two rebounds and two steals.
Indiana gave the Lakers no air in Game 3. Storming out to a 7-0 advantage and then leading 14-4, CHESS’s three-pointer was the final dagger in the 22-16 series-sweeping victory. CHESS finished with a season-high 15 points and three assists; BIG REIGN added five points, two rebounds and two assists. RYAN1on1 scored 14 to lead the Lakers.
