Warriors Gaming Squad Holds Off Gen.G Tigers to Stay Undefeated
May 12, 2020
Warriors Gaming Squad and the Gen.G Tigers made history merely by stepping onto the virtual court, but proceeded to thrill NBA 2K League fans by putting on a series for the record books. WGS emerged late Thursday night with a 2-1 series victory and thus one more win to add to its record, making the team 2-0 after sweeping Kings Guard Gaming in the season opener on May 5.
Game one was an immediate slugfest. Warriors Gaming Squad trailed by 10 points midway through the second quarter but clawed back to within four points in time for the fourth quarter. The back-and-forth final minutes saw three lead changes before settling into a 74-74 deadlock as CB13’s last-second jumper clanged away. WGS came out on fire in overtime, the league’s first extra period of the season, outscoring Gen.G 15-5 in the fifth and final frame to win 89-79. CB13 (who added a series-high 15 assists) and Bsmoove scored 31 points apiece, while Jin hit four key three-pointers and Slaughter corralled 16 rebounds.
POSTERIZE that DUNK 🏀🗑️ #WGS @BsmooveJ sails over 3 players! pic.twitter.com/0D6PiqMdAe
— Warriors Gaming (@WarriorsGaming) May 8, 2020
The second game was all about CB13. Making an early push for candidacy on the league’s end-of-year award ballots, CB13 scored a team-record 49 points on efficient 20/26 shooting. Former Pro-Am teammate ShiftyKaii, however, carried the day for Gen.G with a 32-point, 12-assist day of his own, while center Killeyy, drafted as a point guard, added 16 points and 12 rebounds. WGS had a chance to tie late in the fourth quarter, but squandered one possession too many and fell 73-68. The win was the first in Gen.G franchise history; the 2020 expansion team is the first franchise in the league from outside of North America.
Such a back-and-forth series presaged a nail-biting game three, and the two teams did not disappoint. WGS and Gen.G once again traded blows through the first three quarters: WGS lead 35-19 in the second quarter before Gen.G seized the lead by outscoring WGS 23-10 in the third quarter. After trailing by seven points with 2:30 remaining in the game, WGS held Gen.G scoreless in the final minute of action, including forcing a missed layup and failed alley-oop attempt in the final second. CB13 scored WGS’ final 11 points, en route to recording 34 points, while Slaughter added a 14-point, 16-rebound double-double (his third of the season) in the 70-68 win.
Was Thursday night's @WarriorsGaming vs @GenGTigersSH series the best of the season so far?
It definitely lived up to the hype! Watch the best moments from all three rounds! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wGoINFeydD
— NBA2KLeague (@NBA2KLeague) May 8, 2020
“I was proud of our guys for pulling through in the clutch last night,” Warriors Gaming Squad GM Rustin Lee said. “We knew Gen.G was going to be tough, but those games were super tight and came down to execution. I’m seeing a lot of maturity and growth in our guys from the seeds that were planted last year.”
Warriors Gaming Squad will face 2019 runners-up and two-time THE TIPOFF TOURNAMENT champions 76ers GC, whom WGS defeated to win THE TURN TOURNAMENT in 2019, on May 13 before taking on Cavs Legion GC on May 15.