Snubby’s Game-Winner Propels Hornets Venom GT to Sweep of Gen.G Tigers
August 1, 2020
Zae Delivers Late from Distance in Game 1; Charlotte Stays in 2K League Postseason Hunt
A tough week of play ended on a high note for Hornets Venom GT as the team stayed in contention for a playoff spot with a sweep of the Gen.G Tigers of Shanghai on Friday night.
Game 1 was a closely-contested affair until about midway through the fourth when Gen.G opened up 63-56 lead on the hosts. Charlotte responded with a triple from guard Alex “Expose” Whelan and then got three straight three-pointers from forward Zaeya “Zae” Ishak, helping open up a 68-65 advantage by the one-minute mark.
Not 1, not 2…@ZaeBucks drained a trio of clutch 3's down the stretch in Game 1!! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hZV5RcMPob
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) August 1, 2020
Gen.G forward Christopher “TurnUpDefense” Anderson eventually knotted the score with a corner three on a second-chance opportunity, leaving exactly 24 seconds on the clock. On the next possession, guard Justin “Snubby” Stemerman drove down the paint, faked out Gen.G center Mercedes “Deadeye” Williamson at the basket and calmly banked in the go-ahead layup.
Let's have another look at that @Snubby21 game-winner… 👀#ThisIsNotAGame #VENOMenal pic.twitter.com/LmpmoYJ7SZ
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) August 1, 2020
With a mere four seconds to work after a pair of timeouts, Gen.G inbounded the ball to point guard Dhwan “ShiftyKaii” White. Given no room to operate thanks to forward Gio “Trap” Elizondo, Shiftykaii found guard Wesley “Gen” McNair just above the charity stripe, but his contested jumper clanged off the rim, giving Hornets Venom a 72-70 victory.
BIG 👏🏼 DEFENSIVE 👏🏼 STOP 👏🏼 TO 👏🏼 SEAL 👏🏼 THE 👏🏼 WIN 👏🏼#ThisIsNotAGame #VENOMenal pic.twitter.com/L0TGl4FWca
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) August 1, 2020
Snubby finished with 27 points and a career-high 11 assists, while center Xavier “Type” Vescovi also double-doubled with 10 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Zae (19 points) and Expose (14) added double-digit scoring performances and Gen.G received 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals from ShiftyKaii.
Game 2 was forced to restart at the 4:45 mark of the first and a 2-2 score. Tied 20-20 after the opening frame, Hornets Venom held Gen.G to just eight second-quarter points and cruised into halftime with a 35-26 advantage. An 11-0 run over the final two minutes of the third pushed the lead to 18 as Charlotte sailed to a 71-59 win and series sweep of its fellow expansion club.
You just can't give @ExposeHim__ THIS MUCH SPACE!!! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/Gi7SlhoMsR
— Hornets Venom GT (@HornetsVenomGT) August 1, 2020
Snubby (22 points), Expose (17), Type (12) and Trap (12) all scored in double figures in the clinching victory, with Snubby (nine assists) and Type (nine rebounds) both narrowly missing a second straight double-double. ShiftyKaii and Deadeye each had 16 points for Gen.G, while forward Anias “Flac” Sanders (14) and TurnUpDefense (13) closely followed in scoring.
Coming into the night shooting 46 percent from distance, Hornets Venom connected on 20-of-35 total three-point attempts, good for a 57 percent clip. Charlotte also committed just 10.0 turnovers over the two contests and held ShiftyKaii – the 2K League’s seventh-leading scorer – to over seven points below his seasonal game average (22.0 points; 29.6 PPG coming in).
Hornets Venom will next kick off a back-to-back set on the road against NetsGC on Wednesday, August 5 beginning at 7 PM EST. Catch the game on ESPN mobile, Twitch.TV/NBA2KLeague or YouTube Gaming.
by Sam Perley