RotoWire — Jeff Edgerton

With both Hornets Venom GC and T-Wolves Gaming desperately fighting for playoff positioning with only a few weeks to go, this series proved to be one of the closest battles on record with one of the smallest point differentials over the three games that we’ve ever seen in 2K League history. Both teams fought hard, but the T-Wolves ultimately came out on top, 2-1.

The Hornets were happy to have center Type back, and they hoped his skills under the basket would help them get back in the groove. He had an immediate impact, but the teams battled through a reasonably even first quarter. Heading into the second frame, the T-Wolves had a slim four-point lead. Things remained tight throughout the second quarter as well, and the two headed to the locker room with the Hornets holding a slight edge.

The Hornets were effective in sealing off the paint in the third quarter and forced the T-Wolves to try and beat them on the perimeter. The going was rough as the Hornets’ defense kept them at bay. The greens were lighting up all around the arc for both teams, as they exchanged 3-pointers back and forth throughout the quarter. Interestingly, the usual suspects weren’t hurling in the threes – JoJo for the T-Wolves and Trap for the Hornets were the sharpshooters from long range in this matchup. The two teams entered the final six minutes deadlocked at 49. The Venom kept draining shots, but the T-Wolves cooled down in the fourth quarter, which gave the Hornets a slim advantage with three minutes left. BearDaBeast dished a ball inside to FEAST for an easy basket to close the Hornets’ lead to three points with less than two minutes left. The T-Wolves stormed back and drained a three to tie it up at 66 with eight seconds left. A timely turnover by T-Wolves center FEAST ultimately gave BearDaBeast a game-winning transition bucket, completing what was an impressive turnaround in the final two minutes of the game.The T-Wolves took Game 1, 68-66, in a match that could have gone either way. FEAST was superb in this game, recording a huge 22-point, 22-rebound double-double while the point guard who connected on the game-winning bucket, BearDaBeat, poured in 21 points and collected 11 assists in the contest.

Game 2 started much like the first game, with no team gaining a significant advantage. At the end of one, the score was tied 18-18 with BearDaBeast and Snubby doing most of the scoring. BearDaBeast did almost all the scoring for the T-Wolves in the second quarter, but it was more than enough as the T-Wolves earned a 33-29 lead at halftime after several exchanged possessions.

The momentum shifted the Hornets’ way in the third as they briefly wrestled the lead from the T-Wolves. With Type back in the lineup, the old reminiscent of the Hornets’ stifling defense started to appear. Despite the shift, the third quarter accomplished very little, as the two teams headed into the final six minutes tied at 45. The two teams remanded deadlocked to the final minute, as a critical three from Expose and a massive block by Type put the Hornets up quickly, and it was enough to put the game away despite a late three and a steal from the T-Wolves. Despite a huge 41-point game from BearDaBeast, the Hornets pushed it to a third game in another close one. Type had 17 big rebounds in a raucous fight in the paint, and Zar was absolutely clutch with 19 points and five threes.

The first half of the third game was all about extended runs, as the Hornets and T-Wolves exchanged extended runs that resulted in significant leads on either side. BearDaBeast carried the team on his shoulders throughout this series, and despite the late hour, he kept at the heavy lifting. JoJo sunk a shot in the closing seconds to take the lead, but Expose returned with a three to give the Hornets a 35-34 lead at halftime.

If the league ever drafts up a Top 10 for Closest Series, you’d have to give this one a vote. These two teams battled fiercely, back and forth in the final 12 minutes, with a subplot at almost every position. The battle between FEAST and Type was a huge difference-maker, and a huge swat by Type as BEAST headed in for the dunk shifted the momentum with less than two minutes left. The Hornets still trailed by three with little time left, and it looked like they could roar back, but BearDaBeast drilled a long three to extend their lead. The Hornets had to foul, and BearDaBeat put the final nails in the coffin with two foul shots. The T-Wolves kept themselves in the playoff hunt with a 2-1 series win after a 69-65 Game 3 final. For the Hornets, their slide continues as they try to stay playoff-relevant.

Hornets Venom GT (7-6) will face Gen.G Tigers at the end of the week. T-Wolves Gaming (7-6) will square off against Blazer5 Gaming next week.