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Mavs Gaming picked up where they left off with a 2-0 sweep of Heat Check Gaming, beginning with a strong showing in Game 1. Holding a slim 15-13 lead entering the second quarter, Mavs Gaming put the clamps on Heat Check, holding them to just six points. The key to the Mavs’ defensive force was PeteBeBallin, who locked down the paint and picked up two of the six blocks he ultimately finished with.

PeteBeBallin saw frequent action throughout the second half for a couple of reasons. First off, the Mavs switched up their lineup, putting Dimes at shooting guard in a secondary ball handler build while using Sherm at the point. Both had great games running the pick-and-roll with PeteBeBallin, as Sherm finished with 24 points (9-of-15 FG) and eight assists while the latter notched 17 points (7-of-11 FG) and six assists. This combo helped PeteBeBallin pick up a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Secondly, Heat Check Gaming seemed unable or unwilling to shoot many threes. The Mavs finished Game 1 making 11 of their 21 attempts from long range, and the Heat took just 10 shots from long range, making five. Rookie PG Glenratty put up 27 points on 12-of-24 shooting and Hotshot had a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, but no one could stop the Mavs from taking over in the fourth. Mavs Gaming took the final quarter 22-16 and finished Game 1 with a lopsided 73-48 advantage on the scoreboard

Heat Check Gaming was more competitive in Game 2 after subbing in rookie SG Delusion for King Peroxide. Once again, the Dallas squad jumped out to an early lead, outscoring their opponents 17-10 in the first quarter, but the Heat fired back in the second. Hotshot came alive and showed how a center can take over a game, leading the Heat to a 23-14 second quarter and 33-31 halftime lead.

The game went back-and-forth out of halftime, with both teams taking turns holding the lead. Glennratty struggled in Game 2, scoring 16 points on 7-of-16 shooting, but Hotshot dominated again, finishing with a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. While Heat Check’s offense seemed more fluid and more players hit their shots, the ball movement got worse, and they finished with 10 assists to the Mavs’ 17.

The game was tense entering the fourth quarter, as the Heat held a slim two-point lead. The Mavs’ defense came alive, though, holding Heat Check to a mere nine points in the quarter. Up by five with two minutes left after a big three-pointer from Sherm — who led all scorers with 25 points — the Mavs held on after a late surge from Heat Check and claimed a 61-58 victory.