RotoWire – Zak Hanshew

Grizz Gaming (5-5) faced Mavs Gaming (8-4) in the opening matchup of Week 9 on Tuesday. Game 1 saw Mavs Gaming get off to a hot start, winning the first half 40-24. Grizz Gaming wouldn’t go down without a fight, and the team cut the lead to single digits, 53-45, heading into the fourth quarter. Eight points is the closest the team would come to bridging the gap, and Mavs Gaming closed out the game with a 66-58 victory. Turnovers played a big part in the outcome, as Grizz Gaming coughed up the ball 12 times, compared to just five for Mavs Gaming. Sherm led all scorers with 33 points, and PeteBeBallin double-doubled with 13 points and 11 boards for the winning team. GOOFY757 led the way for Grizz Gaming with a dominant 20-point, 17-rebound showing, though it wasn’t enough to get the win. Vandi went for 16 points and 11 dimes, and AuthenticAfrican scored 14.

Game 2 was a much closer contest, as both teams traded baskets the entire first quarter. Down 15-10 with under five seconds to play, GOOFY757 was fouled but hit a crazy underhanded shot and made the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play and get the lead down to 15-13. Sherm led all scorers with seven points. Grizz Gaming cut the lead further in the second quarter and finished the half strong on an 8-4 run. GOOFY757 paced Grizz Gaming with 15 points and five boards, and Vandi totaled 10 points and five dimes. Sherm scored 12 in the first half for Mavs Gaming as the team took a 30-29 lead into the break. Mavs Gaming built the lead to 51-45 entering the final frame, but this one came down to the wire.

Down 60-58 with just over 30 seconds to play, Grizz Gaming had the ball with a chance to tie, but a Vandi turnover led to an easy transition bucket and a 62-58 deficit with 26 seconds to play. Grizz Gaming made up for the mistake with a quick Vandi dunk and a steal from GOOFY757. A timeout was called, and GOOFY757 slammed home a deck when play resumed to tie it 62-62 with 7.5 to play. Sherm drove to the hole and dunked it with four seconds remaining to take a 64-62 lead. With no timeouts remaining to advance the ball, Grizz Gaming lobbed the ball upcourt where it was stolen, and Mavs Gaming hit a transition three on the other end to finish the game 67-62.

Vandi finished with another double-double, going for 26 points and 10 assists, while GOOFY757 finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and five dimes. Sherm worked his magic, posting another game-high scoring total, finishing with 30 points and three steals. PeteBeBallin notched a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards.
Mavs Gaming improves to 9-4 on the season, while Grizz Gaming drops below .500 with the loss.