HORNETS VENOM GT HEADS TO BYE WEEK AFTER SWEEPING KNICKS GAMING
May 27, 2020
Type-Zae Frontcourt, 3-Point Shooting Outburst Leads to Impressive 2-0 Series Victory
Perhaps the most balanced all-around performance of the season for Hornets Venom GT helped the squad notch a convincing 2-0 series sweep over Knicks Gaming on Tuesday, May 26.
The defense got off to a strong start in Game 1, helping the hosts build a 17-9 lead after the first and a 38-24 advantage by halftime. Knicks Gaming battled back in the third quarter before Hornets Venom responded with a 20-8 run to open the fourth on its way to an 83-56 victory.
Guard Alex “Expose” Whelan finished the outing with a season-high 27 points and forward Zaeya “Zae” Ishak matched his season high with 24 points and eight rebounds. Center Xavier “Type” Vescovi put up 13 points, 14 rebounds and a season-high 12 assists for his second triple-double of the campaign, forward Gio “Trap” Elizondo (10 points) cracked double digits for the first time and guard Justin “Snubby” Stemerman dished out a season-high eight assists.
Make that 🔟 assists and a TRIPLE-DOUBLE for @type! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/j1rfOYLBD3
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) May 27, 2020
Reigning second overall pick and guard Christopher “Duck” Charles had an impressive 34 points, six assists and three steals for Knicks Gaming in the loss. Center Robert “CantGuardRob” Nastasi was the only other Knicks Gaming player to reach double figures in Game 1, finishing just short of a double-double with 10 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
Hornets Venom then registered an even more impressive start in Game 2, racing out to a 22-8 lead after the opening six minutes of play. From that point, both teams scored exactly 63 points the rest of the way as the hosts cruised to a comfortable 85-71 win and series sweep.
Nothing better than turning great defense into transition buckets 👋🏼
A @Type block leads to an @ExposeHim__ layup! pic.twitter.com/KLFwN1xxWL
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) May 27, 2020
Zae notched a new season high in the second game, finishing with 27 points (5-of-6 from three), four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Expose added 26 points, Snubby collected 17 points, seven assists and four steals and Type nearly notched another triple-double with 12 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and four blocks.
.@ZaeBucks HAVING A NIGHT!!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/snSp5MCGjL
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) May 27, 2020
CantGuardRob led Knicks Gaming in the second loss with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks. Duck (19 points, nine assists and 10 turnovers), forward Malik “OriginalMalik” Hobson (13) and forward Brock “EhTruth” Nikolakakos (12) scored in double figures as well.
Heading into the night, Hornets Venom hadn’t drained more than six three-pointers in any game this season, but broke out from behind the arc with a 9-of-16 clip in Game 1 and a blistering 11-of-13 mark in the follow-up (20-of-29 total; 69.0 percent). The teal and black also compiled a 48-30 rebounding differential and forced 35 total Knicks Gaming turnovers.
Hornets Venom will now be off until Wednesday, June 10, when it will host Celtics Crossover Gaming for a 7 PM EST tipoff. Watch the action on Twitch.TV/NBA2KLeague, ESPN mobile or YouTube Gaming.
By Sam Perley