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- BIG3 Announces Select 2019 Cities & Dates — Tickets On Sale Tomorrow In Detroit, Philadelphia & Atlanta - May 16, 2019
- Corey Maggette Named 2018 BIG3 MVP - August 22, 2018
LEXINGTON, KY — August 6, 2017 — In front of a high energized crowd of more than 8,000 basketball fans, BIG3 took the Rupp Arena court in Lexington, KY on Sunday, delivering another week of highly competitive, professional 3-on-3 basketball. With life or death playoff implications for teams in every game, the energy inside the historic arena was electrifying and the competition at an all time high. The Lexington Herald-Leader noted, “Marketers have talked up the level of physicality and intensity in these contests, and it’s not baloney. Guys dive after loose balls and body each other up in the post.” That physical intensity was on full display in all four contests as players battled for every possession, leaving it all on the floor in the penultimate games of the regular season.
In the most exciting and feature game of the day, Trilogy maintained their unbreakable winning streak in a dramatic come from behind win after trailing 25-14 at halftime before claiming a 50-45 win against a hardfought Power. Trilogy is now 7-0 and have clinched the first seed in the playoffs. From the first possession, the intensity of play was off the charts as Trilogy’s James White continued his streak of hard-nosed defense and trash talking in an effort to keep Power Captain Cuttino Mobley in check. Trilogy Captain Kenyon Martin highlighted his team’s aggressive play in the win with two massive blocks that brought in thunderous roars from the fans. The level of basketball was so high in the closing possessions of the game that the crowd was on its feet for a full ten minutes. Rashad McCants, the league’s overall No. 1 draft pick led his undefeated team to victory with 20 points and eight rebounds including the game winning score. With this being Power’s second loss in a row, they are now placed in a must win situation going into Week 8.
The day’s second matchup was a back and forth game between Co-Captain Stephen Jackson’s Killer 3s and last week’s Player of the Week Andre Owens’ 3’s Company as both teams entered the day in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Killer 3s jumped out to an early lead while relying on Jackson and Billups along with league leading rebounder Reggie Evans. The second half was an all out war with players fighting for loose balls and going at each other to see who could come away with the win. 3’s Company regained the lead on an Andre Owens jumper at 40-39 after trailing since early in the first half, but Chauncey Billups was able to put his team back on top moments later with a clutch free throw. In the game’s final possessions with the everyone in the arena standing, 3’s Company Co-Captain DerMarr Johnson hit a huge jumper and Al Thornton nailed the game winner to give Johnson his second consecutive win as a head coach.
The 3 Headed Monsters continued to ride the hot hand of league scoring leader Rashard Lewis and guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to take down the Ball Hogs. With the 50-34 win, 3 Headed Monsters clinched the second seed in the playoffs.
In the day’s finale, Tri-State took to the court with a 1-5 record and beat the odds to pull off a 51-43 win against Ghost Ballers. If the team is able to secure another win in Week 8, Tri-State will have an opportunity to compete in the playoffs.
Official attendance was 8,007. Kentucky legends Sam Bowie and Rex Chapman were among the crowd at Rupp Arena taking in the action and were joined by fellow Wildcat Rajon Rondo and Lexington native and Orlando Magic star Shelvin Mack.
BIG3 Week 7 games will air on Fox Sports 1 Monday evening at 5 p.m. PST / 8 p.m. ET. BIG3 Week 8 will bring professional basketball to Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 13.
See below for game summaries and video highlights from all four games. Please credit all video footage to Fox Sports 1.
GAME 1: Ball Hogs (34, 1-6) vs. 3 Headed Monsters (50, 6-2)
For the fifth week in a row, 3 Headed Monsters came away with the win behind the dynamic shooting combination of Captain Rashard Lewis and Mahmoud Abul-Rauf. Kwame Brown made the first basket of the day for 3 Headed Monsters and the team never trailed the Ball Hogs in the victory. Rashard Lewis, the BIG3 scoring leader, led the way with a game high 17 points and 11 rebounds while Abdul-Rauf added 14 points of his own. 3 Headed Monsters showed off the team’s strong defense and pick and roll offense as they look to close out the regular season on a high note next week.
GAME 2: Killer 3s (48, 2-5) vs. 3’s Company (51, 3-4)
3’s Company and Killer 3s delivered thrilling basketball for fans in a must win game to keep playoff hopes alive. The game featured six lead changes and Killer 3s Captain Stephen Jackson led all scorers with 25 points, but 3’s Company rode a balanced offensive attack to bring home the win. BIG3 star Andre Owens poured in 20 points to continue his outstanding season and Captain DerMarr Johnson contributed 10 points. Al Thornton drained the game winner for 3’s Company and came through in a big way with 15 points on 62.5% shooting (5-8), including the game’s only 4-pointer.
GAME 3: Trilogy (50, 7-0) vs. Power (45, 4-3)
In a game that featured heated competition and trash talking, Trilogy came out on top to keep its perfect season intact. Power went on a 12-0 run to end the first half with a nine point lead, but Trilogy quickly erased the deficit with a 22-2 run of its own to start the second. DeShawn Stevenson, the league leader in made 3-pointers, chipped in five more for Power in the loss. Trilogy Captains Kenyon Martin and Al Harrington raised the level of intensity in the second half along with James White, but Rashad McCants took over on the offensive end to close the game out. McCants scored 20 points and made the game winning layup following his eight rebound of the day.
GAME 4: Ghost Ballers (43, 3-4) vs. Tri-State (51, 2-5)
Lexington’s final game highlighted the competitiveness of the BIG3 as Tri-State took down Ghost Ballers for the team’s second win of the season. Led by Captain Bonzi Wells, Tri-State committed only three turnovers on the day while improving its standing in the league. Wells scored a season high 18 points on 57% shooting (8-14) as his hustle set the tone for his squad’s victory over the favored Ghost Ballers. Dominic McGuire, acquired earlier in the season from the Ball Hogs, had his best game to date adding 13 points with two 3-pointers and eight rebounds. Teammate Lee Nailon rounded out the win with 12 points on 62.5% shooting (5-8) and sealed the deal with a game winning jump shot.
Heading into Week 8 in Los Angeles, the Ghost Ballers must find a way to overcome the offensive prowess of the 3 Headed Monsters and the size of Kwame Brown in the middle to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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