Can you say instant classic? The only thing that Judgement Day was lacking was the ending, but Nas and Uncle Skoob put on the exact type of show that fans were expecting at Kezar Pavilion in sunny San Francisco on Saturday.
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Nas ultimately pulled out a 30-28 win on a game-winning free throw after a controversial foul call on Skoob sent him to the charity stripe with everything on the line. Much to the dismay of the West Coast crowd, Nas of course buried the free throw.
An early bucket by Nas to start the battle was quickly answered by 11 consecutive points from Skoob, who at that point had a commanding and decisive advantage. Nas promptly offered a brief response, but Skoob continued his early dominance with a response of his own and sent the game to halftime with a 10-point advantage, 16-6, on an incredible bank shot.
At that point, you knew Nas was going to need one of the best efforts we’ve seen from him to continue his storied win streak that has become oh-so-prestigious in the 1v1 space. Skoob was completely dialed in and had 100% of the momentum, and to be honest, Nas wasn’t getting downhill and getting to his spots as consistently as you would expect in the first half.
The second half? Well, that was obviously a different story. Down 21-12, Nas rang off 10 straight points to flip the game completely on its head and steal momentum entirely. Skoob fought hard until the end, but in all reality, it was this stretch that ended the game. With Nas on the ropes and reeling, Skoob was unable to prevent the inevitable rally and was instead added to Nas’ graveyard.
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So, what does it all mean? First, the continuation of Nas’ long-running win streak means that the champion is still undisputed. For Skoob? It’s a heartbreaking shortcoming. This wasn’t just a huge opportunity in terms of his positioning in the space, it was deeply personal. These are two longtime rivals who became brothers and then eventually became estranged again, and to be so close and to have this end the way it did is undoubtedly a devastating result for Skoob.
And for the match itself? Well, this is why we love the 1v1 space so much. With everything on the line, two of the most prominent competitors in the sport put on an unforgettable instant classic matchup that will surely set the tone for the rest of a pivotal year for the sport.
Game Highlights
2-0 Nas
Nas gets us started right off the bat in this highly anticipated main event, getting to the tin and converting the layup on his first possession to take an initial lead.
2-2
What a move by Skoob to get to the rack, plus he finishes the layup, and they were knotted at two to start here at Kezar. This place is buzzing, and it already feels like we could be witnessing a real moment in the 1v1 space here.
4-2
Skoob is unreal. An early statement with the crossover and the basket to grab a 4-2 lead.
6-2
Skoob is toying with this man; he gets to the rim with ease again to continue his run, and now it’s Nas who will have to formulate some sort of answer defensively
8-2
SHUT IT DOWN. SKOOB CROSSES NAS UP AND BURIES THE TREY TO TAKE AN 11-2 LEAD. Can you believe what’s transpiring in San Francisco right now?
11-2
STOP. JUST STOP. SKOOB CROSSES HIM AGAIN, DRAINS THE 3-POINTER AND SETS KEZAR PAVILION ON LITERAL FIRE. It will take a serious uphill climb for Nas’ storied win streak to continue.
Uncle Skoob Held an Early Lead!
11-4
Nas finally responds with a stop, then attacks the basket and gets to the money to cut Skoob’s early lead to 7.
11-5
Nas gets fouled and converts at the line.
13-5
Skoob prevents Nas from turning that brief stretch into a real run and stretches his lead to eight
13-6
Nas gets downhill and converts the bucket to show some more signs of life. He’s going to need to do that a lot more as this game progresses, or we could be in for a shocking and decisive result.
HALFTIME
16-6
Oh my god. THE BANK IS OPEN! Skoob for three off the glass to send this thing to halftime, and I honestly can’t believe the statement he’s making against Nas right now. Nas is on a 29-game winning streak! This is crazy, he’ll need a double-digit comeback to keep it alive.
16-8
Nas. Bucket. Just what the doctor ordered to prevent this one from getting out of hand right after halftime.
16-11
NAS FOR THREE! The money counter is rolling, and Nas is back within five.
16-12
Nas gets to the line, converts, and all of a sudden it’s a two-possession game, and Nas is accruing all of the necessary momentum to potentially complete this comeback.
19-12
SKOOB CALLS THE BANK FROM DEEP AGAIN, AND THE BANK IS STILL OPEN.
21-12
Skoob gets to the tin with a crafty move and is now threatening to go back up by double digits
21-14
Nas gets to the tin and converts again. Will this be enough to spark a second rally?
21-17
NAS NEVER SAYS DIE! Nearly down double digits for the second time tonight just a moment ago, he buries the deep ball to cut Skoob’s lead to just two possessions once again, and we could have a legit classic brewing on our hands as this gets down to the wire.
Nas’ Comeback!
21-20
NAS FOR THREE AGAIN AND THE FOUL! THE STREAK IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
22-21 Nas
LEAD CHANGE!!! NAS GETS DOWNHILL ON SKOOB AND THE LAYUP IS NO PROBLEM. THE COMEBACK IS ALIVE, AND YES, THE 29-GAME WIN STREAK IS VERY MUCH ALIVE. INSTANT CLASSIC BREWING.
22-22
SKOOB FOR THE TIE. If you didn’t think this was going down in the 1v1 pantheon, think again.
23-22 Skoob has the lead!
Skoob’s free throw puts him back ahead by a point. Maybe that will help him catch the same fire he had earlier when he was threatening to turn this into a rout.
24-23 Nas regains it
LEAD CHANGE. Nas attacks the basket and does what he does, converting the lay-in to retake a one-point lead. This is well worth the price of admission.
24-24
Skoob ties the game from the line, again. Next man to six wins.
25-24 Nas
Nas regains the lead with a donation from the charity stripe and is now five points away from extending his historic win streak to 30 games.
25-24
Nas cooks Skoob with his first step, and Skoob fouls to prevent the easy basket. It ends up working, as Nas comes up short on the free throw and is unable to extend his lead.
26-25 Skoob
LEAD CHANGE! Skoob with one of the most clutch baskets of his career to regain control of this game over Nas, and this place is officially ready to burst at the seams if Skoob can complete this effort.
28-25
SKOOB GETS TO THE BASKET AND FINISHES THE LAY-IN OFF THE GLASS. This game was up for grabs, and Skoob may have just taken it and ended the most iconic winning streak in the space in the process. Can he finish the job and knock off Nas?
Nas: Judgement Day Champ!
28-27
Nas gets to his spot and hits the bank shot off the glass to cut the deficit to one, and he can now win this game with a 3-pointer.
28-27
Nas goes to the line with a chance to tie the game and MISSES! Kezar Pavilion is stunned.
29-28 Nas takes the lead!
LEAD CHANGE! Nas gets to the basket and finishes the layup with contact to swing things once again, but he misses his next attempt with a chance to end it and officially stretch his win streak to 30.
29-28
SKOOB WITH LOCKDOWN DEFENSE AND NAS CAN’T GET ANYWHERE! Nas wants a foul but won’t get one. This is getting chippy with so much on the line, and neither player is willing to concede an inch in these moments.
30-28 GAME!
TO A CROWD FULL OF BOOS, NAS IS FOULED AND HEADS TO THE LINE WHERE HE CONVERTS THE GAME-WINNING FREE THROW. THE STREAK CONTINUES IN THE MOST IMPROBABLE OF FASHIONS. THIS GYM IS STUNNED, SKOOB IS STUNNED, AND NAS IS VICTORIOUS ONCE AGAIN.
Editor’s Pick
The post Nas Continues Win Streak In Instant Classic vs. Uncle Skoob At BIL x OTD Judgement Day! appeared first on Ballislife.com.
