Magic Gaming Reaches SWITCH OPEN Semifinals with Win Over Pistons GT

April 4, 2024

Magic Gaming Reaches SWITCH OPEN Semifinals with Win Over Pistons GT

PHOTO: Magic Gaming point guard Joshua “unguardable” Hunter ( credit: Abner Withers, Orlando Magic)

The Lead: Few teams are more accomplished over the last couple of NBA 2K League seasons than Pistons GT. With high-end players at all three 3v3 positions, they’re a tough out in any tournament. However, for the second straight meeting, Orlando made quick work of Detroit, this time to advance to the winner’s bracket semifinals of the SWITCH OPEN.

Game 1: All season long, Magic Gaming has been a strike-first squad. That trend continued as Orlando opened the series with a 22-14 triumph over Detroit.

Magic Gaming point guard Joshua “unguardable” Hunter notched team highs in points (11) and assists (three). Big man Ashton “LowkeyGodlike” Agredano knocked down the game-winning jumper and finished with seven points.

“I truly think the reason we’re able to win a lot of game ones and just start strong in series is that we’re really prepared and focused going in,” said Magic Gaming general manager and head coach Jonah Edwards. “This group is super locked in and tight right now. We’re playing loose, but our mindsets are really locked in and focused.”

Game 2: The NBA 2K League billed this matchup as a clash between two of the top guards this game has to offer. In the second contest of this series, unguardable made the case as to why he may be a notch above the rest of the competition as he outdueled Detroit’s Anthony “ANT” Costanzo. The 2023 double All-Star Game MVP erupted for a game-high 18 points to propel Magic Gaming to a 22-16 win over Pistons GT.

Unguardable went a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range.

“I said Josh probably had the best series of his season last night, but I think that it’s no longer true, because tonight probably is his best series of the season,” said Edwards. “He was phenomenal.”

Game 3: You know a team is searching for answers when they do a mid-series position switch. But that’s exactly what Detroit was forced to do after getting dominated in two consecutive contests by Orlando. While having Connor “Connor” Hardin move to lock and Jomar “Jomar” Varela Escapa flip flop to the big position may have drawn pregame attention, it was ANT’s spectacular performance that kept Pistons GT alive. ANT poured in a contest-best 18 points to help Detroit edge Orlando 22-20 and extend the series.

Unguardable and small forward Julian “Jboolin” Manzanares each scored eight for Magic Gaming.

Game 4: When Magic Gaming acquired LowkeyGodlike this offseason, they were hoping he would be the perfect pairing with their franchise point guard. They believed that when defenses collapsed on unguardable, LowkeyGodlike would be able to knock down every open shot that came his way. Orlando’s big man continued to prove the organization right. With game four and the series on the line, unguardable found LowkeyGodlike, who knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer in Magic Gaming’s 21-17 victory.

“When we built this team, we knew the eyes were always going to be on me,” said unguardable. “So, getting another shot maker that can really change the dynamic of your offense is what we were really looking for. (LowkeyGodlike) has been nothing but that. He always comes through when it matters. He makes the big shot (and) he gets the big stop … He’s a champ and he knows what it takes. He’s always composed, which is great.”

Unguardable finished with 11 points, while LowkeyGodlike added seven.

Quote to Note: “The team success has been great. It’s great to play good and actually win, instead of playing good and losing, which has happened in the past. This is a great feeling. We have made the final fours (of both tournaments this season). It’s only up from here. We’re continuously getting better. We’re always adding new layers to our team whether it’s our offense or our defense. It definitely feels good to have the team success finally come to fruition like we’ve been hoping for.” – unguardable

Up Next: Magic Gaming will attempt to reach the SWITCH OPEN winner’s bracket finals when they face Rim Runners, a community team, on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“They have been good in both tournaments and we’re not going to take them lightly at all,” Edwards explained. “We’ll be super prepared, and we will not be underestimating that team.”

How to Watch: Fans can watch games live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

About Magic Gaming

Magic Gaming, based in Orlando, Fla., is one of 25 teams competing in the NBA 2K League entering its seventh season. The NBA 2K League is a professional esports league co-founded by the NBA and Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., which began play in May 2018. The league features the best 125 NBA 2K players in the world. Magic Gaming’s five-man roster competes as unique characters in 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 play against the other teams in a mix of regular-season games, tournaments and playoffs. Follow Magic Gaming on Twitch – OrlandoMagicGaming, Instagram/Twitter – @MagicGaming, Facebook/Magic Gaming or at www.MagicGaming.nba.com.