PACERS GAMING VS MAVS GAMING – 2023 “THE TIPOFF” TOURNAMENT

INDIANAPOLIS (May 31, 2023) – Pacers Gaming saw its record drop to 2-2 Wednesday night in the group play round of the NBA 2K League 5v5 THE TIPOFF Tournament presented by AT&T with a 62-57 home loss to Mavs Gaming.  The Pacers will play two games Friday in the tournament – at 6:00 p.m. against Warriors Gaming Squad and at 8:00 p.m. versus Jazz Gaming. The Blue & Gold are now 4-3 all-time against Dallas in 5v5 competition.

Veteran center BIG REIGN (Blaine Wilson) tied career-highs with 26 points and 13 field goals made and set a career mark with 18 field goals attempted.  The Montgomery, Ala., native completed his second double/double in four games this year with 10 rebounds. His eight points in the third quarter were Indiana’s only points in the period.  CHESS (Kory Taylor) scored 13 with four assists and GREENLIGHT (Dylan Sanderson) was held to 10 points, well below his 23.3 PPG season average. He did have a team-high eight assists. FOLLOWTHEGOO led Dallas with 18 points while KENNYZEUS added 14 points and 10 assists.

The Pacers got off to a strong start in the game, leading by as many as nine in the first quarter as BIG REIGN scored six, CHESS and GREENLIGHT added five apiece and Indiana led 19-12 after one quarter.  The Pacers led by nine early in the second quarter before settling for a 30-27 halftime edge as BIG REIGN again went for six in the period.  Dallas stormed to a 12-2 start in the third quarter to take command.  BIG REIGN was the only Indiana player to score as the visitors outscored the Pacers 18-8 in the period. The Mavs took their largest margin at ten points, 52-42 with 3:20 to play.  Indiana did pull within four, 57-53 with a minute to play but Dallas held on at the end.