RotoWire – Jason Shebilske

76ersGC’s late-season rally came to an end Saturday as the team was swept by Blazer5 Gaming in the semifinal round of THE TICKET, powered by AT&T.

Neither Radiant (1-6 FG, four turnovers) nor Mama Im Dat Man (3-7 FG) had their best starts in the first quarter of Game 1. However, Mama Im Dat Man got help from MaJes7ic and OneWildWalnut, while the Sixers were unable to generate much production as they went just 3-for-13 from the floor over the quarter. As a result, Blazer5 Gaming led 17-9 at the end of the first quarter. Mama Im Dat Man found his groove in the second quarter, but MaJes7ic was a standout performer in the first half as he went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, entering halftime with 12 points and four assists. As a result, Blazer5 Gaming extended its lead to 38-21 at the half.

Blazer5 Gaming played lockdown defense to begin the second half, forcing five additional turnovers while the 76ers went 3-for-8 from the floor. On the offensive side of the ball, the Blazers remained dominant. MaJes7ic led the team with 22 points heading into the fourth quarter while Mama Im Dat Man and OOC Slim also put up double-digit scoring totals by the end of the third. The blowout was on as Blazer5 Gaming led 62-29 going into the last quarter. As if his teammates’ help wasn’t enough over the first three quarters, Mama Im Dat Man was dominant in the fourth quarter as he went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc and added 11 points to his total for the game. 76ers GC didn’t put up much of a fight in the closing minutes, and Blazer5 Gaming finished with a commanding 82-40 win in the first game. Both Mama Im Dat Man (28 points, 11 assists) and OneWildWalnut (10 points, 19 rebounds) had double-doubles for the Blazers, while MaJes7ic (24 points, six steals) and OOC Slim (22 points) were also dominant on the virtual hardwood. Radiant was never able to get things going for the 76ers as he went 8-for-18 from the field, but he still finished with a team-leading 18 points along with nine turnovers. BreadwinnerLA nearly picked up a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, but that pairing only got seven points of outside help during the blowout loss.

The Sixers learned from their mistakes in the first game and put up a solid fight out of the gates in Game 2. Radiant was much better with ball control while also shooting more efficiently. After trailing 16-12 at the end of the first quarter, the 76ers went on a 4-0 run over the first minute of the second quarter to tie the game at 16. Blazer5 Gaming found their footing after a timeout, and solid shooting from MaJes7ic allowed the Blazers to regain an advantage. While 76ers GC made a push late in the half, the Blazers still held a four-point lead at halftime by a 33-29 margin.

The pairing of Mama Im Dat Man and MaJes7ic took control of the game once again in the third quarter. Together, the duo shot 10-for-15 from the floor over the quarter, while Radiant had trouble against OneWildWalnut’s defense and committed four more turnovers. As a team, the 76ers committed six turnovers during the frame and let their hopes slip away. Blazer5 led 57-43 at the end of the quarter. 76ers GC’s season ended on a quiet note as the team turned the ball over five more times during the final frame while shooting just 4-for-10 to add an additional eight points to their total for the game. As a result, Blazer5 Gaming completed the sweep with a 75-51 victory. Mama Im Dat Man (30 points, nine assists) and MaJes7ic (30 points, four steals) led the offensive attack of Blazer5 Gaming, while OneWildWalnut was also dominant with 12 points, 22 rebounds and six steals. Radiant was unable to get the 76ers off the ground during the entire series, and he finished Game 2 with 17 points and eight turnovers. Steez was also quiet with just seven points in the second game, and although BreadwinnerLA had a nice performance with 18 points and nine assists, the two-way attack of Blazer5 Gaming was too much to overcome.

Blazer5 Gaming will face T-Wolves Gaming later Saturday in the finals of THE TICKET, powered by AT&T with the final spot in the Season 3 Playoffs on the line, while 76ers GC will finish the season with a regular-season record of 7-9, still a solid turnaround after starting the season 0-6.