The second week of BIG3 basketball tipped off in Tampa’s Yuengling Middle on Saturday, highlighted by a pair of undefeated matchups together with different groups recording their first wins of the season.
The motion started with an exhilarating contest between the Enemies and Ghost Ballers. Each groups performed a good first half, with the Enemies taking a 25-24 lead at halftime behind an Isaiah Austin layup. With each groups tied at 28, the Enemies went on a 9-0 run led by two-way standout Isaiah Stewart. Ryan “Hezi God” Carter knocked down his second three of the sport to get the Ghost Ballers inside seven, 43-36, however the Enemies pulled away once more. After lacking a four-pointer, Crawford discovered the red-hot Stewart for the game-winning three.
https://x.com/thebig3/standing/1804580212933624005Â
Stewart led the Enemies with 23 factors and 4 3-pointers, whereas Crawford — who scored 20 final week — tallied 12 factors, 5 assists and two rebounds. For the Ghost Ballers, Taylor scored 11 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists. Hezi God recorded ten factors with a pair of 3-pointers.
The opposite undefeated battle to look at was 3’s Firm vs. Bivouac, which was one other down-to-the-wire battle. After 3’s Firm took a 25-22 lead into halftime, Bivouac tied the sport at 34 off of a two-hand slam by Javier Carter. 3’s Firm took management as soon as extra, however a Garlon Inexperienced 3-pointer tied the sport at 42. The ending was controversial and “unprecedented,” as Brian Scalabrine famous on the published. 3’s Firm known as a timeout once they had none left. Inexperienced made the technical free throw to present Bivouac a 50-47 win.
Bivouac’s Corey Brewer broke out for twenty-four factors, 9 rebounds, two assists, 4 steals and one block. Inexperienced completed with 15 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. For 3’s Firm, Michael Beasley tallied 22 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas Reggie Evans put up a double-double of ten factors and ten rebounds.
One other notable second got here between the Energy and Killer 3’s. Energy captain Glen Rice Jr. obtained his second technical foul for contesting an out-of-bounds name and was subsequently ejected. He ultimately left the court docket after initially refusing to take action, and a profitable problem by head coach Nancy Lieberman decided that Rice Jr. was proper. This marked the third consecutive season the place Rice was ejected from a BIG3 recreation. He left with a closing statline of 14 factors, seven rebounds and one help, whereas Energy went on to win 51-47.
https://x.com/4thManPod/standing/1541147894589407233
https://x.com/4thManPod/standing/1690782969626046464
https://x.com/4thManPod/standing/1804622560908423319
Listed below are the remaining closing scores and key takeaways from Week 2 of the BIG3.
Remaining Scores
- Enemies 50, Ghost Ballers 36
- Tri-State 51, Trilogy 40
- Bivouac 50, 3’s Firm 47
- Energy 51, Killer 3’s 47
- Triplets 52, 3 Headed Monsters 37
- Ball Hogs 50, Aliens 35
Key Takeaways
Isaiah Stewart Places BIG3 on Discover
Following his 23-point masterclass, Stewart informed BIG3 commentator Brian Scalabrine that the Enemies had been “disrespected” all of final season, which is why their vitality has risen to a different degree this 12 months.
“Now we have to be higher by 15 factors,” Stewart mentioned. “We the Enemies, we ain’t getting no calls, we ain’t revered. It’s what it’s.”
Stewart echoed that message in his look on the BIG3’s Sizzling Mic, saying, “We’re in a unique mode proper now.”
The Enemies’ newfound vitality, mixed with the chip on their shoulder, led to consecutive wins that had been highlighted by sturdy second-half performances. It is a key motive why they’ve turn out to be one of many league’s undefeated groups, letting their recreation communicate for themselves.
Tri-State’s Assertion Win over Trilogy
Tri-State did a superb job towards the three-time champion Trilogy in a must-win recreation. They honed in on the defensive finish of the ground and shut down Briscoe, who led the league in scoring simply final week. Jason Richardson broke out for 25 factors and 11 rebounds — together with 4 3-pointers — whereas Kevin Murphy equipped 18 factors, 5 rebounds and two assists. Tri-State was additionally capable of comprise Trilogy’s essential gamers — for probably the most half. Briscoe completed with 12 factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists, however Clark led Trilogy with 20 factors and 9 boards.
And although Trilogy could also be 0-2, they should not be counted out simply but. The three-time champions of the BIG3 confirmed loads of combat within the robust loss, overcoming a 20-point deficit to get inside six, 46-40. Clark and Briscoe’s promising performances confirmed they would not be denied, even when the end result did not go Trilogy’s approach.
“My group is feeling this loss proper now,” Jackson mentioned on the Sizzling Mic. “So hopefully, we’ll be again subsequent week with the previous Trilogy angle, successful to get this factor to 1-2.”
Given Trilogy’s monitor document, there is no doubt they will bounce again subsequent week in what shall be an uphill climb this season.
Brotherly Love
The Triplets captured their first win of the season behind excellent performances from Jeremy and Jannero Pargo — one among 4 units of brothers taking up the BIG3 this season. Each of them have years of expertise within the league, and it definitely confirmed as they helped the Triplets beat the three Headed Monsters 52-39.
Jannero Pargo made mighty contributions to the offense, pouring in 12 factors, seven assists and 7 rebounds. Jeremy had arguably one of the best second-half efficiency of any participant on this younger season, racking up 14 factors — together with two 4-pointers and a 3-pointer in speedy succession — within the interval. He led the Triplets with 20 factors, three rebounds, an help and a steal. Prime-tier performances like that may play a significant function because the Triplets combat their approach again to the finals.