Weekly Recap | Week 8

76ers Gaming Club (GC) (7-4) won both of its Week 8 matchups at the NBA 2K League Studio Powered by Intel in New York City. In its first game of the week, 76ers GC came out on top against NetsGC (5-5), 50-37, while the second contest saw 76ers GC overpower Pistons GT (1-9) in a historic 95-54 victory. After completing the sweep, 76ers GC’s record stands at 7-4, tied for the third-best in the league.

Coming off a thrilling Week 7 victory over previously undefeated Mavs Gaming (10-1), 76ers GC began Week 8against another team battling for a playoff spot, Nets GC. The first-ever meeting between the two squads saw a closely contested first half, however, after a dominant third quarter, 76ers GC showed why they are one of the league’s best.

Philadelphia once again came out strong, beginning the game on a 6-0 run only to see Brooklyn storm back with a 7-0 run of their own. Trailing 7-6, 76ers GC turned their defense into offense scoring three straight buckets off of NetsGC turnovers. Despite a hard-fought first half, 76ers GC controlled the rest of the contest and put the game out of reach in the final 12 minutes, highlighted by a 14-6 third quarter. At the end of the night, it was a historic performance for 76ers GC’s defense, recording a league-record 22 steals.

76ers GC point guard Ehtan “Radiant” White displayed his MVP-level form, putting up 22 points, one rebound, four assists and one steal. On from the start, Radiant scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half, including the game’s first six. The Battle Creek, Michigan native set a regular-season high for three-point field goals with five.

Eighteen of 76ers GC’s 22 steals came courtesy of 76ers GC power forward Christopher “BreadwinnerLA_” Lafanette and 76ers GC center Alexander “Steez” Bernstein, who finished with a league-record nine apiece.

In addition to his nine steals, Steez’s stat line of nine points, six rebounds and three assists earned him Intel Player of the Game honors. Prior to this matchup, the most steals he had recorded in game this season was four, which he accomplished twice

NetsGC was led by center Moshood “Shockey” Balogun Jr., who posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, while NetsGC shooting guard Nathaniel “NateKahl” Kahl went a perfect 3-3 from the field and finished with six points, one rebound, one assist and four steals.

76ers GC’s strong play continued into their second matchup of the week as they took on a Pistons GT squad in desperate need of win. With an opportunity to build upon their regular-season point differential, 76ers GC seized the moment and turned in a season-best 41-point victory.

Just like their contest with NetsGC, the first quarter featured solid play from both sides with 76ers GC holding a five-point lead at the end of the period. From there, it was all 76ers GC as they outscored Pistons GT, 75-39, in quarters two through four. Philadelphia’s 95 points were the most scored in the league this season and third-most in league history.

76ers GC small forward Rashann “ZDS” Petty scored a league season-high 42 points, while adding four assists and two steals. With the record in sight, ZDS dropped 23 points in the second half capping off an efficient night shooting the rock, going 17-21 (.810) from the field and 8-11 (.727) from beyond the arc.

ZDS was not the only one who had a hot hand, as Intel Player of the Game Radiant posted his second point-assist double-double in his last three games with a season-high 34 points to go along with 15 assists and one steal. His 15 assists to two turnovers produced his best assist-to-turnover ratio in a single game this season at 7.5.

Steez contributed across the board with eight points, 14 rebounds, three assists and two steals. The 14 boards represented the sixth time he has reached double figures in rebounds across all competitions this season.

Pistons GT center Robert “May” May led his team with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block, while Pistons GT power forward Joseph “Joseph” Marrero added 15 points, two rebounds, one assist and one block.