Rotowire

Pacers Gaming entered this week’s tournament festivities on a roll, winning three of their last four games. Now at 4-4 on the season, the surging Pacers looked to play the spoiler against one of the league’s premier teams in Warriors Gaming Squad. Golden State averaged a blistering 71 points per game over the season’s first seven games and entered the break at 6-1, good enough for the league’s second-best record.

Indiana started hot right out of the gate in the first game, as they jumped to a 9-0 lead early in the first quarter. Behind some excellent defensive play by CB13, the Warriors closed the gap entering the second quarter. While the Pacers kept on the gas, Slaughter’s Glass Cleaner badge was activated mid-way through the frame, giving WGS a huge rebounding edge as the second stanza continued. CB13’s 20 points and Slaughter’s eight boards in the first half proved to be the difference-makers, as the Warriors carried a one-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 28-27. Despite BOHIO being saddled with a cold ring for most of the third quarter, the Pacers employed solid defensive play to wrestle the lead from the Warriors going into the final frame.

With Pacers Gaming sporting a 41-40 lead, Indiana needed BOHO to break out of his slump to keep the pressure on, and he delivered right away with a swooping layup to begin the quarter. After Indiana jumped to a five-point advantage, the Warriors tried to regroup with a timeout, but couldn’t halt the Pacers’ momentum. Golden State cut the lead to two with eight seconds left but still had a foul to give. They fouled twice, and Indiana sunk both free throws for a 61-57 lead and the win, as the Warriors were unable to answer with no time remaining.

Swizurk was the unlikely top scorer with 20 points at the four for Indiana, as usual point magnet BOHIO struggled, shooting 35 percent from the floor for 13 points. WolF excelled from the lock with 17 points and five steals. Despite the loss, CB13 won the floor-general battle with 29 points and five assists, while Slaughter posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double with four blocked shots.

Game 2 began with CB13 dictating the action once again, as he scored 12 points to help give the Warriors a 19-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Golden State continued to show why they are one of the league’s top offensive threats, as they rattled off a 7-0 run to begin the second quarter, putting Indiana behind the 8-ball with a 14-point deficit. The Pacers continued to turn the ball over as the quarter continued, and regressed severely on the defensive end as the Warriors had several wide-open looks from long range. The 31-9 thrashing in the second frame by the Warriors gave them a dominating 50-21 lead at halftime. The Pacers were able to stem the tide somewhat, but they only managed to outscore the Warriors 27-23 in the third quarter, which still put them at an almost insurmountable deficit of 73-48 heading into the final six minutes. The Warriors won easily with a final score of 96-69. CB13 put on a brilliant tour-de-force in Game 2, posting an eye-popping 54 points, seven steals and six assists, and drilled 7-of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. The most telling number for Indiana was 20, which is the number of times they coughed up the ball. BOHIO committed 11 of them and continued to struggle from the floor despite a 19-point, nine-assist stat line. Swizurk led the team again with 20 points.

Warriors Gaming Squad immediately takes on Grizz Gaming as the playoffs continue, while Pacers Gaming will also square off against Grizz Gaming later Tuesday, which will further crystallize the standings in Group 3.