Magic Gaming faced a tough challenge Wednesday night, losing their second game of a doubleheader to the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai with a final score of 84-70 in the NBA 2K League.
The evening began on a high note for Magic Gaming, as they secured a commanding 71-62 victory over NetsGC in the first game. Joshua “unguardable” Hunter and Emmanuel “FantaSZN” Gosman were the standout performers, combining for 50 points and leading their team to a third consecutive win in TURN group play. Their dynamic play and strategic execution were on full display, setting high expectations for the second game.
However, the challenge against the Gen.G Tigers proved to be more formidable. Despite several attempts to close the gap, Magic Gaming could not overcome a slow start and a double-digit first-quarter deficit, leading to their 84-70 loss.
Magic Gaming Faces Tough Challenge Against Gen.G Tigers in Second Game of Doubleheader
“That’s a team playing with nothing to lose, and those are always dangerous games,” said Magic Gaming general manager and head coach Jonah Edwards. “It came down to a lot of what we talked about going into the game. For whatever reason, we had low energy coming off a win earlier in the night against NetsGC. It’s a tough thing to do to play a back-to-back in this league. So, we just came out super, super flat.”
A key player in Gen.G’s victory was shooting guard Darjean “ReturnOfDJ” Henderson, who delivered a standout performance against his former team. Henderson, who was traded to the Tigers as part of a four-team deal that brought FantaSZN to Orlando, scored 25 of his game-high 46 points before halftime, shooting 7-for-8 from three-point range at the break.
“We knew this was his super bowl and their super bowl,” said Edwards. “We were their big brother all year in 3v3, and so this was their moment. And they got it. I imagine this is not the last time we’re going to see Gen.G this season.”
Magic Gaming showed resilience in the third quarter, opening with an 11-4 run that brought them within two points. However, Gen.G outscored Orlando 16-9 to close the period, maintaining their lead. Despite their efforts, Magic Gaming could not close the gap in the final quarter.
Center Ashton “LowkeyGodlike” Agredano notched 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while point guard Joshua “unguardable” Hunter added 16 points and 11 assists for Orlando. FantaSZN contributed 14 points, continuing his strong performance from the previous game.
Magic Gaming's Struggles In Back-To-Back Games Highlight League Challenges As They Prepare For Philadelphia
Orlando’s inability to sustain their momentum from the earlier win highlighted the challenges of back-to-back games in the league. Edwards noted the difficulty in maintaining energy levels and focus, particularly after an emotional and hard-fought victory.
Looking ahead, Magic Gaming returns to TURN group play action on Friday when they face 76ers GC at 7 P.M. ET. After their loss to Gen.G, Orlando will need a win over Philadelphia along with some additional help to qualify for the tournament's bracket play. This upcoming match will be crucial for their chances of advancing and redeeming themselves after the tough loss.
Fans eager to support Magic Gaming can watch the games live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. As the team prepares for their next challenge, they will need to regroup and refocus to keep their tournament hopes alive.
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