On Aug. 14, the Big3 Playoffs came to Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa, where two down-to-the-wire games decided the matchup for the league’s championship game in Atlanta.
In the first match, the reigning champ Trilogy—looking for a three-peat this year—took on the Aliens in a matchup that went back and forth until the bitter end.
Trilogy coach and NBA legend Stephen Jackson was on his feet nearly the entire game, often stepping onto the court as he instructed his team and yelled at the referees, all while wearing thousands of dollars of glittering ice around his neck.
Isaiah Briscoe, former NBA and European league player was on fire, sinking 21 points, with four assists and two rebounds. Deshawn Stephens of the Aliens tried to answer with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Both teams raced to 50 points. Whoever got to that score first would win, according to the rules of BIG3.
In the end, the Aliens’ effort wasn’t enough and Trilogy won wrapped the game up 51-45 with a three-point jumper from Earl Clark, who spent five seasons in the NBA and then played for leagues around the world before joining BIG3.
The second matchup between the 3 Headed Monsters and Power was even closer, with both teams trading shots back and forth to make for a thrilling second half, despite a slow start for both teams in the first half.
Glen Rice Jr., another former NBA player, carried Power, landing 26 points and six rebounds. Kevin Murphy of 3 Headed Monsters answered back with 28 points and five rebounds. During the battle between the Monsters and Power, Fans received a surprise from rap legend Ice Cube, co-owner of the league, when he took to the court to perform his classic “It Was a Good Day.”
WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil, who was sitting next to Cube the whole game, was one of many members of the crowd who came to their feet as Cube rapped.
The game came down to the wire, with the Monsters up 49-48 as Power gained possession of the ball.
T.J. Cline of Power caught a pass down low but was trapped, so he kicked it out to Rice Jr. at the three point line who found himself wide open. The Monsters’ defense tried to close in on him but it was too late, and he hit a game winning nothing-but-net three pointer to make the final score 51-48.
Trilogy and Power will now face off in the championship game in Atlanta on Aug. 21. Trilogy will try to make BIG3 history by winning three seasons in a row, while Power will try to recapture the glory of the championship that it won in 2018.
Photo by Tre 'Junior' Butler
During the battle between the Monsters and Power, Fans received a surprise from rap legend Ice Cube, co-owner of the league, when he took to the court to perform his classic 'It Was a Good Day.'
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