If the NBA courts are fierce, the TNT studios are fiercer. To mark the return of TNT Tuesday, Shaquille O’Neal took on Candace Parker and Jamal Crawford in an intense competition of – drumroll – Connected Clue. You know, that game that’s all the rage on TikTok. Since this is NBA on TNT Tuesday, it’s very NBA, it’s very TNT, it’s very Shaq.

Adam Lefkoe played game show host who introduced the contestants – Blacker The Berry, Can, and J’Cross. Guess who’s who. A clear favorite is the, “Tall drink of water from Newark, New Jersey.” He comes with a self-composed theme song with the line, “My name is Bridge, I’m bridgin’ gaps,” and a stomp-and-clap dance that is going to pop up throughout the game.

Sidenote; Blacker The Berry comes from the running joke of Jamal Crawford’s attachment to a yesteryear Blackberry. Tragically, the witty pseudonym, song and dance, and winning the practice rounds don’t help. Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t advance beyond zero points through most of the games.

The leader was Can aka Candace Parker. She displayed appropriate game show etiquette, didn’t buzz early till Lefkoe completed the question, and didn’t yell for her turn. She and Crawford managed to score 100 points in the first few questions. It got a mean, “LSU not coming through,” from Crawford.

For reference, former Tigers star and first draft pick overall, Shaq has a BBA and MBA from LSU. That sting to his alma mater will come to bite J’Cross in the derriere spectacularly.

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Redemption thy name is Shaquille O’Neal

On January 17, 2023, the crew played Celebrity Jeopardy on TNT Tuesday. Scandalously, it came out a year ago today that Jamal Crawford cheated to win the Jeopardy match. Last year, Shaq went ballistic and punched the dry-erase board. He even tried to headbutt it but those things are surprisingly sturdy.

Candace Parker is feeling the sting of that year-old con too. But she was cozy at 300 points and with a secure lead. The plot twist was not the last two questions being Diesel trivia. It was Lefkoe declaring the final round is worth 500 points. Parker was ready to riot right there.

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The hints were Shaq’s middle name + Sherlock’s last name. Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal answered “Richaun Holmes,” and won 500 points and the game. The aftermath was Crawford arguing that Shaq mispronounced it, “Rashaun Holmes,” as Candace pulled a Shaq.

Unlike the big winner though, she succeeded in breaking that board when she declared she’s never playing with the cheaters again. Nothing could break Blacker The Berry’s celebratory dance though.

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What do you think – did Blacker The Berry unfairly steal the win from Can?