It’s playoff time for the Mavericks.
The Mavs Global Gaming team received a heartfelt sendoff Tuesday as the team headed to New York, where they will open the NBA2K League postseason Wednesday against the Boston Celtics.
The Mavericks earned the No. 2 seed in the playoff bracket. Of the 21 teams in the league, eight qualified for the postseason. The Mavericks and Celtics meet at 5 p.m. (Dallas time). Game 2 will be at 7 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, will be at 9 p.m.
Portland and Golden State open the tournament at 4 p.m.
Fans can watch on MavsGG Twitch, NBA 2K League Twitch and Youtube. Updates will also be available on the Mavs GG feed on Twitter and Instagram.
The Mavericks open as heavy favorites to beat the Celtics. Bettors would need to put $230 to win $100 on Mavs Gaming. Boston would yield $168 for a $100 wager. Blazers Gaming is the No. 1 seed and the prohibitive favorite in the playoff tournament.
But, as they say, there’s a reason why they play the games. In the playoffs, anything can happen.
“We drafted this amazing team and now we’re the No. 2 seed,” said Dimez, aka Artreyo Boyd, the leading scorer on Mavs GG at more than 16 points per game (along with better than 8 assists). “I want to bring a championship back for all the people who have supported us.”
About 100 well-wishers from the Mavericks’ front office toasted the Mavs GG team as they boarded their shuttle to the airport Tuesday norning.
“We’re so proud of y’all,” Mavericks’ CEO Cynt Marshall said to the team at the sendoff. “This means a whole lot to our organization because this is the second season for Mavs Gaming. The first season we got the No. 1 draft pick in Dimez, who is amazing and we pulled it all together with Coach LT Fairley and said we have more to do. I still remember this big book and binder LT had when he was recruiting and scouting these guys. They put it together and have a great team. Today is all about the guys and their hard work. Our entire organization is cheering them on.”
The Mavericks had a terrific regular season, making the playoffs after missing them in 2018. Peter Malin, aka PeteBeBallin, is in the running for NBA2K League rookie of the year after averaging better than 14 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals per game at the center position.
It would be a wonderful follow-up to the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic winning rookie of the year in the NBA if Malin were to win the award for the 2K League.
“This has been a great season for us so far,” Malin said. “We’re happy to be going to the playoffs and we’re going to do our best to finish the job.”
If the Mavericks defeat the Celtics, they will move into the semifinals against the winner of the 76ers vs. Pacers game, which is on Thursday.
The eight teams are playing for a piece of the $720,000 playoff prize pool.
Twitter: @ESefko
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