SK Gaming vs Team Heretics Recap – LEC 2024 Winter Playoffs
| Tags: LEC
| Author Paul G
It's the last chance for both teams as LEC renegades face off against one of the strongest teams from Play-ins SK Gaming vs Team Heretics Recap
The LEC playoffs are in full swing, and the remaining contenders for 2024's first silver shield are out for blood. Right out the gate is SK going toe to toe against Team Heretics, two teams that were severely underestimated last season. While SK's confident lead in the standings has fans pumped, their crucial bot lane has been faltering as of late, opening up a possible weakness for the staggering Heretics to exploit. Read all in our SK Gaming vs Team Heretics Recap!
NO MORE SECOND CHANCES.
The #LEC Winter Playoffs continue NOW!
Watch here:
📺 https://t.co/n8Ev4bMoua pic.twitter.com/bma5QLdGZL— LEC (@LEC) February 10, 2024
SK Gaming vs Team Heretics – Game 1
It was a fantastic showing Saturday as both teams immediately opted for aggressive dives early on. Cross-map skirmishes saw the first lead go to Team Heretics, who were happy enough to throw Exakick and Doss off-rhythm. However, Irrelevant, ISMA, Nisqy, Exakick and Doss swiftly made up for the deficit and went even further for a 2k gold lead 12 minutes in.
The midgame was balanced on a razor's edge before TH took a risky engage to deny SK's 3rd drake. Tense moments followed before Nisqy used a stolen Maokai ult to deter Flakked and co. from creeping towards dragon pit. However an extremely uncoordinated dive from SK's jungler cost them dearly, setting the score to 5-9.
From there, TH kept a solid lead and played defensively. But when time came to contest Baron, Nisqy made sure to use his Maokai ult last to launch a counter-offensive sustained by Wunder's immovable K'Sante. The game ended in Team Heretics' favor soonafter, with their top and midlaner emerging unscathed with 0 deaths.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: SK 0 – 1 TH
- Time: 31:05
- Kills: 6 – 17
- Turrets: 3 – 8
- Gold: 49.9k – 59.6k
- Dragons: 2 – 2
- Barons: 0 – 1
SK Gaming vs Team Heretics – Game 2
The match was down to the wire as one team had everything to gain. So far, SK Gaming vs Team Heretics was an even match, so it all came down to who could execute their plays better. And SK had a plan.
A very cautious early game saw Nisqy's team play slower, smarter fights that let SK claim first blood and first drake. Not wanting to widen the gap, Perkz stayed on defense for the rest of the midgame and rightly focused on securing objective leads to catch up. But when their tier two turret at toplane was being pushed, the boys at Team Heretics were forced into a very disorganized fight. As a result, they fell off while SK scaled and decisively took first Baron.
From there, TH could do nothing but defend their base and wait for SK Gaming to slip up in any way. But Exakick's team had an 11k gold lead, all their towers, Baron buff and Soul Point, so they couldn't have lost the game even if they tried.
Quick Stats:
- Teams:: SK 1 – 1 TH
- Time: 38:30
- Kills: 13 – 6
- Turrets: 11 – 0
- Gold: 75.9k – 62.5k
- Dragons: 4 – 2
- Barons: 3 – 0
SK Gaming vs Team Heretics – Game 3
After their most dominant game in the series, SK wanted a repeat to close out the best-of-three (bo3) series. Following an impressive jungle steal by ISMA, both rosters played respectfully as they scaled.
The biggest scrap of the game occured at toplane when an explosive teamfight landed in SK's favor. A beautiful collapse funneled most of the gold into Exakick's Draven, so it was up to Flakked and Perkz to make a play.
Despite having superior poke champs, TH could only prep for the next onslaught as Nisqy's team confidently claimed 2 more dragons. SK Gaming was in the driver's seat, and everyone knew it. Eventually, TH fell in their last stand at Baron pit before SK teleported to their rival's nexus to triumphantly finish the series.
SK Gaming moves up in the Playoffs bracket to fight Fnatic in their next bo3 series.
Quick Stats:
- Teams: TH 1 – 2 SK
- Time: 30:06
- Kills: 6 – 15
- Turrets: 3 – 9
- Gold: 49.1k – 61.8k
- Dragons: 1 – 3
- Barons: 1 – 0
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