Rotowire

Cavs Legion Gaming (3-4) faced Nets GC (4-3) on Monday in a competitive, three-game series. Game 1 was tight throughout, despite Nets GC winning or tying every quarter. Nets GC took a 47-44 lead into the fourth quarter, and Cavs Legion Gaming made it a contest. Cavs Legion Gaming brought the score to within one possession, down 63-60 with just under a minute to play. Two unanswered buckets from Nets GC quickly pushed the lead back to 67-60, before a Cavs 3-pointer made it a four-point game. Two free throws from Nets GC brought the score to its final tally, 69-63. Choc provided a big double-double thanks to 31 points and 10 boards to help lead his team to victory, and Shuttles double-doubled as well, going for 16 points and 11 boards. For Cavs Legion Gaming, Strainer went off for a game-high 39 points, though the big scoring night wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.

Game 2 was all Cavs in the first half, as the squad took a 36-27 halftime lead. Nets GC cut the lead to just six a couple of minutes into the second half, 41-35, before Cavs Legion Gaming went on a 10-0 run to go up 16 late in the quarter. The squad took a 55-43 lead into the fourth quarter with hopes of evening the series 1-1 with a strong finish to the game. CLG nearly let the game slip by allowing a well-timed run from Nets GC. Up 64-55 with under two minutes to play, Nets GC scored six in a row to cut the lead to three. Cavs Gaming missed its next shot with the shot clock winding down, but oLarry grabbed a crucial offensive board to set up a go-ahead free-throw that gave CLG a two-possession lead and an eventual win. All of Strainer’s game-high 41 points were needed in Game 2, and oLarry stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, 14 boards, four steals, four blocks and three assists. Choc led the charge for Nets GC with 20 points, while the frontcourt of Potts and Shuttles provided two well-rounded stat lines in the losing affair.

With the series even at one game apiece, the decisive Game 3 opened with an 8-0 run from Cavs GC and a dominating 24-11 first-quarter advantage. CLG took a 35-25 lead into the second half thanks to a strong, 20-point showing from Doza, who stroked four triples. For Nets GC, Chess got hot with a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. In the third quarter, Doza scored six more on two triples, while Strainer scored nine to bring his total to 18. Cavs Legion Gaming didn’t budge in the final frame, and won Game 3 to take the series. Strainer finished with 21 points and nine dimes, while Doza popped off for an unexpected 30-point eruption that led all scorers. Shuttles had another full line in the loss, while Choc and Chess did their parts on offense.

Cavs Legion Gaming improves to 4-4 on the season, while Nets GC falls to 4-4 following the loss. Cavs Legion GC is back in action Tuesday, while Nets GC will get a few days off before its next matchup on Friday.