Rotowire

Jazz Gaming surprised many with their semifinal appearance in the TIPOFF, powered by AT&T. They got a share of the cash and seemed poised to hit their groove in Week 7after a 4-1 start. Conversely, Hornets Venom GT didn’t make the kind of splash they hoped for last week, but the expansion Hornets have shown that they are more than ready to play with the best in the league. This clash between playoff hopefuls did not disappoint, as one game went to overtime. The second game was a huge statement for the Jazz, however. Jazz Gaming decisively pummeled the Hornets by 42 to complete a 2-0 series sweep.

The Hornets started off hot and looked poised as they did their best to contain Splashy, the Jazz’s most explosive player. Ria remained dangerous under the basket and continued his dominance as an offensive board-crasher, giving the Jazz an opportunity to get back in the game after a 22-15 start. Unfortunately for the Jazz, the Venom’s backcourt of Snubby and Expose shot for a combined 14-for-16 from the floor and kept the Hornets up with a 36-30 lead at the half. The Jazz proved to be resilient and closed the gap in the third quarter, as Splashy kept making plays, darting passes to the corners when he couldn’t find a play for himself. While the Hornets had the lead going into the fourth, the Jazz wouldn’t fade and stormed back to tie the game, sending the contest into overtime. The extra frame was horrific for the Hornets as they literally gave the game away, and the Game 1 final of 75-68 made things look a lot closer than what actually transpired on the court. The Jazz have Splashy to thank for this win, as he helped them storm back with 37 points and six assists. Sixth-man Gliz made his first appearance at center and grabbed 14 rebounds, replacing Type for the evening.

The Jazz kept the momentum going into Game 2, as they jumped out to an early lead and absolutely blitzed the Hornets in the first quarter. Snubby was the only Hornet to score as the Jazz lit it up from everywhere to take a 22-6 lead. It was a balanced attack from the Jazz, as no one player dominated in that extended run. Ria’s glass cleaner badge lit up in the second quarter, and the Jazz’s defensive supremacy was evident in this frame. Their press was relentless and it shut down the Venom’s offense, giving the Jazz a 42-27 advantage at the half.

The third quarter proved to be the death knell for the Hornets, as the writing on the wall crystallized with great all-around performances from the Jazz, highlighted by Yeah I Compete and Ria. They laid down the hammer with a 30-14 third quarter to cement the lead for good. Things went from bad to worse for Hornets Venom as they fell in a blowout loss, 97-55. Yeah I Compete had a breakout game, posting 29 points and four steals while both LordBeezus and Ria notched double-doubles, and Splashy tallied 19 points and seven assists. While Gliz played well under center, it appears the absence of Type could have affected the Hornets’ tempo to some extent, as the Hornets haven’t experienced this kind of blowout before.

Hornets Venom GT (5-3) will try to rebound in a back-to-back game against Pacers Gaming, while Jazz Gaming (5-1) will face Heat Check Gaming on Thursday.