Week 8 of the 2019 Big 3 season descended upon Miami and American Airlines Arena on Saturday night. All three match ups had playoff implications as the season got into its final two weeks.
Game 1: Enemies (3-3) vs 3 Headed Monsters (2-4)
Inactive: Derrick Byars
Needing a victory to keep pace in the playoff hunt and looking for a spark with Gilbert Arenas back in the lineup, the Enemies could not get it done against a 3 Headed Monsters team that snapped their four-game losing streak.
Holding a 25-17 halftime lead, the Monsters were dominant in the second half, outscoring the Enemies by 10 - 25-15 - on their way to a 50-32 victory. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf led the Monsters with 13, and Rashard Lewis added 11, while Mario Chalmers had 9.
For the Enemies, their leading scorer on the season, Craig Smith - 4th in the league at 18.2 per contest - led them with 16 points and 3 rebounds. Perry Jones and Gilbert Arenas scored 5 each. For the Enemies, the loss means a drop out of a playoff spot at 3-4, as they lose their third straight game. They fall to 8th place, with Bivouac holding onto the 4 seed for the time being. For the Monsters, the win was much needed after starting the season 2-0.
Next for the Enemies are the 4-3 Killer 3s, a team that needs a win after losing two straight. The Monsters have a tough match up next week against the defending champion Power.
Game 2: Power (5-1) vs Tri-State (2-4)
Inactive: Cuttino Mobley, Yakhouba Diawara
Three weeks ago in Kansas City, Tri-State's Robert Hite hit a game winner in dramatic fashion, which gave the team what was then their second win of the season.
Tonight in Miami, Nate Robinson delivered in similar thrilling fashion to get Tri-State their third win, and hand Power their second loss.
Trailing 27-20 at the half, Tri-State dominated the second half, outscoring Power 30-16. With a 47-43 lead late, Robinson was able to elude Power's Glen Davis as Davis lunged for the ball, and banked in the game winning three as Davis - attempting to contest the shot - grabbed Robinson around the abdomen. Robinson finished with a game-high 20 points. Tri-State's Jason Richardson also added 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
For Power, Corey Maggette led the way with 19, as Cuttino Mobley sat out once again. Quentin Richardson, Carlos Boozer, and Julian Wright each scored 8. The loss is a setback for a Power team that sits in second place at 5-2. They will face a 3 Headed Monsters team that will be riding the momentum of tonight's big win.
Tri-State - in hopes to get back to .500 next week - play the 2-4 Aliens.
Game 3: Trilogy (4-2) vs Ghost Ballers (3-3)
Inactive: Jason Terry
In the Week 8 finale, the Ghost Ballers had a 25-18 lead going into the half, with Trilogy responding out of the gates in the second half with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 27.
The game was close all the way through, with the Ballers holding on for a 50-47 win, despite 29 second half points from Trilogy. Chris Johnson - in his second game with the Ballers - led them in scoring with 14. He also had 7 rebounds. Alex Scales added 13 points, and Mike Taylor and Ricky Davis added 8 each.
In a game that saw their four-game winning streak snapped, Trilogy saw positive play - for the second consecutive week - from big man Samardo Samuels, who had a big double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. James White had 14 points and 9 rebounds, while David Hawkins had a tough night with just 10 points, and 6 rebounds.
Trilogy looks to get back on the winning track next week against 3s Company, while the Ghost Ballers will look to get to 5-3 and secure a playoff spot. It will be their toughest test of the season, though, as they take on the 6-1, first place Triplets.
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