Jeff Edgerton – Rotowire

Wizards District Gaming led a colossal charge in Game 2 and carried that momentum in the third game to beat Jazz Gaming, 2-1. They now will meet up with the heavily-favored Raptors Uprising in the finals of The Turn, powered by AT&T.

Both squads employed a relentless full-court press on defense, but the Jazz were first to wilt under pressure. The Wizards held a 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, due in large part to an eight-point, six-rebound performance from DayFri. The Wizards made the best of their second-chance opportunities and kept Splashy at bay in the first frame. The Jazz came back to life in the second quarter as Splashy’s shot woke up, and he also had success getting the rest of the team involved. At one point, they cut the lead to two points, but the Wizards inched out to a 34-28 lead at halftime.

The net result of the third quarter was a 44-39 advantage to the Wizards, but their lead fluctuated from two to 10 points in a defensive tug-of-war that initially favored the Jazz. By lifting the press and setting up their defense sooner, they were able to begin the frame with a 4-0 run. Turnovers and errant shots from the wing plagued them on offense, and the Wizards capitalized. The fourth quarter was an exciting six minutes of basketball, as JBM hit a horrible slump that allowed the Jazz to crawl back within striking distance. A big shot from Yeah I Compete started the Jazz charge and lockdown play from Splashy and Lotty helped to seal the deal. The 59-55 win for the Jazz was quite a steal, and the Wizards faced an uphill battle heading into Game 2. Splashy led the Jazz with 20 points and four assists, and Ria recorded a 16/15 double-double with four blocked shots.

The Wizards have dropped games when JBM plays below expectations, so he needed to rebound in Game 2 to even up the series. The Jazz got a lot of second chances in the paint in the first quarter and took a 15-11 lead heading into the second frame. Splashy was deadly from long range in the second quarter and kept the Jazz on top despite Wizards’ best efforts on offense. The teams headed into the locker room with the Jazz on top, 27-22.

The Wizards struggled to hold on to the ball in the third quarter, and the Jazz kept converting turnovers into points. Splashy’s shots kept falling, and the Jazz pulled out to a 50-38 lead with six minutes left. This gap could have easily been more extensive, but the Jazz left the paint open on a few possessions, and the Wizard found a few easy shots. The Jazz extended their lead to 15, and the game seemed all but over, but the Wizards finally found the run they were looking for. The Wizards launched a massive comeback and tied up the game with a drilled three from ReeseDaGod with less than a minute to go. The Wizards went up by two, and then Rai hit a solo basket to tie it back up. The Wizards couldn’t find a shot, and the game went into overtime.

It was bad news right away in overtime, as Splashy got caught with a cold ring, and due to the three-minute time limit, he was stuck with it for most of the frame. JBM came through in a big way, as he nailed a three to extend their lead to nine points, and that was just about all she wrote for Game 2. The Wizards’ rally was spectacular, as they took the second game in overtime, 75-65. JBM had the game he needed with 30 points and 11 assists, and DayFri recorded a 14/15 double-double with six blocked shots.

Both teams appeared a be a bit gassed after that dramatic finish, but JBM was the big story in the first quarter of Game 3. With 10 points in the opening frame, the former #1 pick was finally dialed in, and he helped put the Wizards up 20-11with three quarters to go. If the standout point guard stayed hit, it could be a rough road for the Jazz. The Wizards looked ready to put the game away as they bumped their lead up to 15, but the Wizards coughed up the ball a few times and allowed a window for the Jazz. Despite that brief charge, the District ratcheted their lead back up to 15 points, with a 34-19 lead at halftime.

The Wizards ran up a 26-8 third quarter to put them up, 60-27. JBM, ReeseDaGod, and Just_Awkward were just too much for the Jazz, and for all intents and purposes, this game was essentially in the books. The District cruised to an easy win, 84-47, and stamped their ticket to the finals. JBM came through again for the Wizards with 29 points, eight assists and five drilled threes, and ReeseDaGod was a perfect 5-for-5 from long range and turned in 19 points.

Wizards District Gaming and Raptors Uprising Gc will meet in the finals of the Turn, powered by AT&T.