Sunday, July 21: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
Game 1: Aliens (1-3) vs Ghost Ballers (2-2)
Inactive: Carlos Boozer
With Carlos Boozer inactive, Alien big man Greg Oden took advantage early of his size mismatch against Jamario Moon. Oden had the first 6 Alien points as they jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead. Following a short run by the Ghost Ballers where they tied the game at 8, Alien guard Shannon Brown then got rolling. He had 8 quick points as the Aliens took a 16-11 lead, and finished with 16 first half points - including a 4 point shot - as the Aliens held a 25-21 lead. Brown was hitting from outside and utilizing his pull up jump shot well. He and Oden had all of the Aliens first half points up until Andre Owens hit a three to send the game into halftime. The Ghost Ballers were just 1 for 8 in the first half from three point range.
Play got a little chippy to start the second half, as Mike Bibby tossed Ryan Hollins - who was starting the half in place of Oden - aside and received a technical. Hollins made the free throw and Brandon Rush had 4 straight to give the Aliens an 8 point, 31-23 advantage. Owens then got into the lane and scored on a finger roll to push the lead to 10. Holding a 45-32 lead, Owens hit on a three to give the Aliens a 16 point lead, and on the ensuing Aliens' possession, Rush crossed over Ricky Davis behind the back and hit a three to give the Aliens a 51-35 victory.
Brown led the Aliens with 18 points and 10 rebounds. It was a big win for the Aliens to stay in the playoff hunt, as they tied the Ghost Ballers in the win column. Owens' strong second half allowed him to finish with 14 points and 6 rebounds.
For the Ghost Ballers, Alex Scales led them with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Davis also finished with 10.
The Aliens will face a hungry Bivouac team next Saturday in Salt Lake City, while the Ghost Ballers have a week off before they go to Rosemont, IL to play Tri-State from Allstate Arena on August 3.
Game 2: Enemies (3-1) vs Trilogy (2-2)
Inactive: Jason Terry
With the Enemies riding a three game win streak, Trilogy coming off a trilling win, and Trilogy coach Kenyon Martin going up against his former Trilogy coach Rick Mahorn, this game had no shortage of interesting elements.
Gilbert Arenas and Royce White started the game on the bench for the Enemies, and although they got off to a 9-2 lead led by Perry Jones and Craig Smith, Trilogy fought back. They went on an 11-2 spurt led by David Hawkins, who had 7 during the run that led to an Enemies' time out.
Trilogy continued their momentum after play resumed, again led by Hawkins who had 13 of their first 25 points as they took a 25-20 advantage into the half.
Arenas, White, and Smith started the second half, and Trilogy went on a run, with James White hitting two straight threes to give Trilogy a 31-20 lead. The Enemies cut it to five after a Royce White lay in and Smith three cut the lead to 33-28 after they trailed by 10. Trilogy, however, got the momentum back after two buckets by James White and Hawkins pushed the lead to 9, at 37-28.
The next few minutes were much of the same, as Trilogy was able to keep the Enemies at bay whenever they would attempt to chip away. Enemy coach Rick Mahorn - having a lineup in the game of Jones, Arenas, and White that couldn't find its rhythm - went with his original starters of Jones, Smith, and Robinson. It wasn't having much of an impact either though, as Trilogy took an 11 point lead at 45-34 following a corner three by Arroyo. Hawkins then hit a three to make it 48-34 and give his team their largest lead. James White ended the game with a free throw jumper to make the final score 50-38.
Hawkins finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists to lead Trilogy to their third straight victory. James White also had 18 points, to go along with 9 rebounds. They now sit at 3-2, as the Enemies have dropped to 3-2 and had their three game win streak snapped.
Smith led the Enemies with 18 points and 3 rebounds. Royce White had 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Jones had 7 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Arenas managed just 2 points.
The Enemies' will need to have all hands on deck in their game if they want to stay above the .500 mark, as they will see Power at Allstate Arena in two weeks. Trilogy will look for their fourth straight win on August 10 in Miami against the Ghost Ballers.
Game 3: Killer 3s (3-1) vs Ball Hogs (0-4)
Inactive: Josh Childress, Marcus Williams, Jermaine Taylor (out for season), CJ Watson
The Ball Hogs, playing with a purpose looking for their first win of the season, were competitive for the majority of the game before talent won out and the Killer 3s got their fourth win of the season.
With the game 34-33 in favor of the Killer 3s, they went on a 16-2 run to close out the game and tie the Triplets and Power atop the league standings at 4-1. The Ball Hogs, who scored just 14 second half points, dropped to a league-worst 0-5.
Franklin Session led the Killer 3s, with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Stephen Jackson added 11 points and big man Eddy Curry had his best game of the season thus far, with 10 points and 3 rebounds.
The Ball Hogs were led by Will McDonald, who had 19 points and 8 rebounds. Deshawn Stevenson added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. At 0-5, they will be in for more difficulties next week against the Triplets. The Killer 3s will look for their fifth win in Utah next weekend against 3s Company.
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