Weekly Recap | Week 7

76ers Gaming Club (GC) (5-4) split its Week 7 matchups on Thursday and Friday at the NBA 2K League Studio Powered by Intel in New York City. In its first game of the week, 76ers GC fell to Magic Gaming (5-4), 68-50, while Game 2 saw 76ers GC hand Mavs Gaming (10-1) it first loss of the season, 74-68. The split moves 76ers GC’s record to 5-4, tied for seventh-best in the league.

76ers GC and Magic Gaming’s Thursday night contest was the first time the two teams had seen each other since the semifinals of THE TIPOFF, Powered by AT&T. Magic runs late in the second and fourth quarters proved to be difference-makers.

After a back-and-forth opening frame, 76ers GC trailed by three and was able to cut the deficit to one in the early stages of the second quarter, but could not find a way to get out in front. From there, it would the Magic’s defense that controlled the game as 76ers GC’s offense was given little to no space to operate, thus forcing them into tough, contested shots.

76ers GC center Alexander “Steez” Bernstein turned in his second-highest scoring output of the season with a team-high 19 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and one block. Going 9-of-10 (.900) from the field, this was his seventh game of the regular season with a field-goal percentage of .500-or-better.

76ers GC small forward Rashann “ZDS” Petty reached double figures in points as well with 11, while adding an assist and a steal. The second-year pro is currently riding a season-best seven-game streak with at least one steal.

76ers GC shooting guard Antonio “Newdini” Newman recorded eight points, one assist and three steals and is now leading the team in steals per game at 2.8. Six of his eight points came from beyond the arc representing his seventh multi-three game across both regular season and tournament play.

Magic Gaming was led by point guard Brendan “Reizey” Hill, whose 20-point, 15-assist double-double earned him Intel Player of the Game honors. Four-fifths of the Magic’s lineup had at least 10 points and as a team they shot .737 from the field, .625 from three-point range and 1.000 from the free-throw line.

76ers GC was able to turn the week around by doing something no other team had done during the regular season: defeat Mavs Gaming.

Starting the game on a 7-0 run, 76ers GC’s energy, both on and off the court, was evident from the tip. Leading by seven at the end of the first quarter, 76ers GC weathered a 21-10 run by Mavs Gaming in second period and faced a three-point deficit going into halftime.

Both teams came out of the half exchanging baskets as the majority of the third quarter was a one possession game. With 1:57 left in the third, 76ers GC pulled ahead, 44-43, and never looked back, stretching the lead to as large as 15 in the final frame.

Intel Player of the Game ZDS put in one of the top performances in the league this season with a season-high 39 points, three points shy of the 2K League season high. Twenty-seven of his points came from beyond the arc and over his last three games, he is shooting .500 (14-28) from three-point range.

76ers GC point guard Ethan “Radiant” White posted his second point-assist double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-high 14 assists. Facilitating and getting his teammates involved early, Radiant proved why he is one of the league’s best as he took over in the fourth where he dropped 11 of his 15.

76ers GC power forward Christopher “BreadwinnerLA_” Lafanette contributed across the board with 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal. The 12 points set a new regular-season high and were the most he had put up since THE TIPOFF.

Mavs Gaming was led by the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, point guard Artreyo “Dimez” Boyd, who finished with 23 points, seven assists and three steals. Mavs Gaming center Peter “PeteBeBallin” Malin posted a double-double with 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.