Here’s everything you need to know, from results to reactions, from the semifinals and final of ESPN’s 16-seed NBA 2K Players Tournament.
Actual NBA basketball can’t be played right now, but ESPN, the NBA and the NBA Player’s Association have teamed up to bring you the next best thing — digital hoops. The 16-seed tournament kicked off last Friday with some of the NBA’s brightest stars facing off.
According to ESPN, “Each player will use a simulated NBA team, from a group selected in advance by the player, in the standard Play Now mode. Once a player has used one of his eight pre-selected teams, he cannot use it again in the tournament.” The first round was split between Friday and Sunday, with play continuing into this week. The winner will receive $100,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, in support of coronavirus relief efforts.
Here are the results, highlights and hottest reactions from the semifinals and finals matchup from Saturday, with instant updates after each game ends.
(5) Devin Booker vs. (8) Montrezl Harrell
GAME 1 FINAL SCORE: Devin Booker (Clippers) 68 — Montrezl Harrell (Rockets) 54
In the first game of this best-of-3 semifinal matchup, Devin Booker struck by using Montrezl Harrell’s own team against him. Building a 10-point halftime lead and a 15-point advantage heading into the third quarter, this first game was all Booker, who seemed to relish in punishing Trez with his own teammates:
In particular, he enjoyed how bringing Landry Shamet into the game paid off early, letting the trash talk just flow:
Trez 🗣️"We Solid"
Book 🗣️ "No you not" pic.twitter.com/Ljngxmtq5s
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 11, 2020
It even got to the point that Booker was locking up the Rockets with his virtual Harrell, which led to Coach Book — a noted defensive turnstile — offering advice on how Trez can get paid. Simply glorious:
"Trez that's how you get paid right there – his ability to guard multiple positions"
Booker is lockin up with 2K Trez 🔒 pic.twitter.com/hvZkmpeaO7
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) April 11, 2020
Seriously though, we hope the Phoenix Suns are actually good one day, because Book’s trash talk game is just delightful:
🎮 @NBA2K Players Tournament 🎮@DevinBook throws it down hard with @Yg_Trece and lets @MONSTATREZZ know about it! 🗣️
📺: #NBA2KTourney on ESPN pic.twitter.com/k5e9DWFTAo
— NBA (@NBA) April 11, 2020
As was this very good boy, who gave Booker a halftime pep talk:
GAME 2 FINAL SCORE: Devin Booker (Raptors) 65 — Montrezl Harrell (Bucks) 62
In Game 2, with his back against the wall, Harrell went with the mighty Milwaukee Bucks, which prompted Booker to take the Raptors. Trez got off to an 8-3 start, but Book responded with an 18-7 run and continued to talk his trash.
However, Harrell built several leads, and we got to see him talk a little smack in turn, like when Booker tried to have Kyle Lowry take off from the free-throw line.
Trailing by two points with about 30 seconds left, Harrell had Giannis Antetokounmpo drive down the lane, where he was stripped by Fred VanVleet. In such a close contest, Booker was obviously amped about the stop.
(10) Deandre Ayton vs. (14) Patrick Beverley
Series starts at 7 p.m. ET
All the game action is available live or after the fact as videos on demand through ESPN and their streaming platforms.
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