We’ve already provided an overall betting preview the inaugural NBA 2K Players Tournament here, but with little else to bet on while we await the return of the season we’re going to dig deeper with a look at key First Round match-ups. To begin with, we’re dissecting the Kevin Durant vs Derrick Jones Jr. virtual “one-on-one” game with a look at NBA 2K 2020 ratings, Vegas odds to win matchup and entire tournament, along with this writer’s prediction. Don’t forget to register by clicking the link below before making your own pick.
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Betting Preview for the Kevin Durant vs Derrick Jones Jr. NBA 2K Players Tournament Game on April 3 2020
Where: The respective homes of Kevin Durant and Derrick Jones Jr. (and your sofa)
When: Friday, April 3, 7 PM ET
Live Broadcast: ESPN, ESPN2
Lines: Kevin Durant (-128) vs Derrick Jones Jr. (-101) – View all NBA 2K Players Tournament matchup odds
Betting on Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (-128)
NBA 2K20 Ratings
Overall Rating: 96
3-Point Rating: 86
Dunk Rating: 85
No.1 seed Kevin Durant has been on the bench nursing an achilles injury all season, and even before this COVID 19 B.S. the Brooklyn Nets stated that he would not return for the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA season, which may end up being a moot point, although odds favor a return to league play. That, and the forced quarantine, means Durant has had a LOT of time to brush up on his NBA 2K skills, perhaps more so than all other players on the April 3rd roster. On paper his rating is impeccable, but the virtual player is only as good as the one holding the controller. That’s why his odds of -128 are fairly close to that of his First Round opponent. Still, you simply can’t argue with the fact that Durant has been immobilized for nearly a year – which makes him a serious threat to win the whole thing, much less defeat Jones Jr..
Durant has +325 odds to win the entire tournament.
Betting on Derrick Jones Jr., Miami Heat (-101)
NBA 2K20 Ratings
Overall Rating: 78
3-Point Rating: 70
Dunk Rating: 94
The high-flyer has an insane Dunk Rating of 94, but a dunk is 2-points so he’ll need to knock down some threes to stay in the game. With a 3-Point Rating of 70 that’s certainly viable, but No.16 seed Derrick Jones Jr. hasn’t logged the same number of hours in eSports as his First Round foe. Perhaps the Heat’s forward Meyers Leonard, who actually has a professional gaming contract, should have been invited to compete instead of his teammate. That said, with Jones being in the midst of a breakout season at the time the season was suspended he is hungry to translate his parquet skills to the digital format and should put on an entertaining show.
Jones has +3000 odds to win the whole tournament.
Writer’s Prediction
Kevin Durant wins the first game of the first round of the NBA 2K Players Tournament by a final score of 82-76.
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