BIG3 breaks through in The Bahamas

Junkanoo music and colorful costumes got the BIG3 basketball playoffs underway, and the action lived up its hype as the event debuted here in The Bahamas.

The playoff games were played on a court that rivaled other BIG3 courts, and the 3 Headed Monsters and Triology came away victorious on Saturday inside the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island.

The games were broadcasted live on CBS. In the first game, the 3 Headed Monsters took down the defending champions, Triplets, 51-39, punching their ticket to the championship game. In the second game, Trilogy got the best of Tri-State, 50-42, punching their ticket to the championship. The championship game and consolation game will also be held at the Atlantis Resort, set for Saturday, September 4. The championship game will get underway at 3:30 p.m.

This is the first time that the 3-on-3 BIG3 Tournament has ventured beyond the United States of America. Locals and tourists enjoyed the stiff competition by former National Basketball Association (NBA) and other professional players. The coaches included Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Julius “Dr. J” Erving (Tri-State), Gary Payton (3 Headed Monsters) and Lisa Leslie (Triplets).

Leading the way for the 3 Headed Monsters in their revenge game against the Triplets was 2012 NBA Draft second round pick Kevin Murphy. He had a game-high 29 points, including three three-point shots. He added eight boards. Murphy hit the game-clinching three-pointer that sent them to the championship game. The games are decided when a team reaches the 50-point plateau.

The first game started off competitive as buckets were traded back and forth between the two teams. The competitiveness was expected as the Triplets and the 3 Headed Monsters were the second and third ranked teams in the league, respectively.

Former NBA player Joe Johnson, who is a key piece to the Triplets, missed a lot of time in the first half, due to being in foul trouble. He finished with just eight points, and they were led by former NBA player Jannero Pargo who finished with 20 points including five three-point shots and even a four-point shot. The 3 Headed Monsters led 25-23 at the half.

The 3 Headed Monsters turned it up on defense side in the second half, avenging a Week 5 51-45 loss. At one point, the 3 Headed Monsters led 44-32. The lead was too much for the defending champions, and the 3 Headed Monsters held on to win the game. Former NBA veteran Rashard Lewis chipped in with 12 points for the 3 Headed Monsters.

The 3 Headed Monsters will look to win its second championship after winning the title in the inaugural season back in 2017.

Trilogy’s Jarrett Jack, doing double duty as player and coach, filling in for Coach Stephen Jackson, was unstoppable on Saturday. He came prepared, looking like he was playing on his home court. He finished with 35 points, setting a BIG3 single-game scoring record. He made 14 field goals, connecting on five three-pointers.

Looking at the way Trilogy played, it’s hard to imagine them being the number four-seeded team. Yet, they executed perfectly against top seeded Tri-State, recording the upset.

Tri-State started the game off with a quick basket and led 3-0 before NBA second round pick James White kickstarted the scoring for Trilogy with a huge one-handed slam dunk.

Trilogy went into the second half up 25-20. They held Tri-State’s Jason Richardson, who had a 15-year NBA career for five different teams, to zero points in the first half. Richardson had a very strong season this summer. Earl Clark stepped up for Tri-State, scoring 18 points.

In the second half, Tri-State came back to within a single point, 32-31, but that was the closest they got as Jack took over. Jack’s team took a 45-36 lead as he scored at will. He saved the best for last, scoring the last five points for his team including a game-clinching three-point from the top of the three-point line.

Jack got support from White who scored 13 points as they combined for 48 points.

The 3 Headed Monsters will look to avenge a 50-43 Week 2 loss to Trilogy, in the championship game, this coming Saturday at the Imperial Arena.

The BIG3 is one of the top 3-on-3 basketball leagues in the world. It was launched in January 2017 by producer, actor and music legend Ice Cube, along with entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. Former Houston Rockets star player Clyde Drexler is the league commissioner.

Atlantis Resort, home of the Battle 4 Atlantis college basketball tournament, along with the BIG3, are in talks to stage the playoffs and championship at the Imperial Arena annually.

The post BIG3 breaks through in The Bahamas appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

source https://thenassauguardian.com/big3-breaks-through-in-the-bahamas/