Blazer5 Gaming Falls in First Round of THE TURN
May 13, 2019
THE TURN, powered by AT&T, saw yet another top seed fall during the second day of competition, as T-Wolves Gaming knocked off the No. 3 seed Blazer5 Gaming by a score of 63-59 during Friday’s action.
Only a few hours after watching No. 1 seed Pacers Gaming get unseated by Celtics Crossover Gaming, it was arguably the league’s hottest team entering Las Vegas, Blazer5 Gaming, which took an ugly tumble during the one-and-done tournament.
An upset was ripe right from the tip-off as T-Wolves Gaming jumped out to a 14-4 advantage early on in the first quarter led by BearDaBeast who scored six points in the opening six minutes. Blazer5 Gaming would respond before the quarter resolved, trailing 17-16 thanks to an astounding eight points from point guard and Intel Player of the Month Mama Im Dat Man.
That would essentially be the pivotal matchup to watch throughout the contest, as neither team trailed by more than five points the rest of the game with both point guards attributing on the offensive and defensive end.
Ultimately the final two minutes of the contest decided the outcome, with TURNUPDEFENSE putting together one of the more memorable quarters of his two-year career. Posting a career-high 18 points, six of which came in the final six minutes, TURNUPDEFENSE hit a corner three with 45 seconds remaining to put T-Wolves Gaming up five points. Successfully rotating and taking away easy baskets for most of the night, Blazer5 Gaming’s one lone defensive gaff would come back to haunt them in that position, as they would immediately connect on a three of their own, only to mysteriously intentionally foul BearDaBeast at the top of the key despite the shot clock showing nine seconds.
While BearDaBeast would make just one of his two free throws, neither a Takeover-infused KinG PeroXide nor a wide open Mama Im Dat Man could hit the tying three pointer, as Blazer5 Gaming watched two missed opportunities careen away as the seconds dwindled out of the clock.
Despite the aforementioned misses, both Mama Im Dat Man (20 points, 13 assists) and KinG PeroXide (20 points on 8-of-11 FG) played well, using a variety of pick-and-roll as well as wrap-around threes to keep Blazer5 Gaming within punching distance the entire game.
It was a team-wide effort by T-Wolves Gaming, with all five starters scoring eight or more points in the game, including a 16-point, 11-assist double-double by BearDaBeast. It’s worth pointing out T-Wolves have now won three of their last four games dating back to Week 4 of the regular season without Hood, who continues to miss time for personal reasons.