Miami 305 Defeats LA Riot to Open Up Week 1 Big 3 Action

The Big 3 got started with its eighth season on Saturday from Allstate Arena in Chicago, with the Miami 305, Detroit Triplets, Houston Rig Hands and Dallas Power winning in the season’s opening week. 

The feature game saw the 305 and the Riot - a 305 team of Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, Mario Chalmers, Reggie Evans, and Sean Williams face off against Dwight Howard, Jordan Crawford, Wesley Johnson, Elijah Stewart and Perry Jones. 

The 305 prevailed, with Beasley scoring 19 points on nine field-goal makes. Stephenson scored 16 and Evan’s grabbed 7 rebounds. 

Crawford, with eight field-goal makes and three triples, led the Riot. Howard scored 10 points with 7 rebounds and battled with Evans down low. Howard dealt with foul trouble - some calls iffy - as he and Evans went at it verbally. 

At one point in the game, Crawford pushed Stephenson in the face, and Stephenson responded by throwing a punch. Both had to be separated as Stephenson charged after Crawford. 

Later in the game, Howard shook off Stephenson trash talk by placing his arm high to create space between the two. Stephenson lowered his head into Howard’s chest and Howard tossed Stephenson to the side before both, tussling, fell into the first couple rows of baseline seats. It was an ugly point in an otherwise quality and competitive game that saw the 305 win by a 50-44 score. 

In his first Big 3 game, Howard played physical and the officials saw him as too physical. As he plays more in the league, he will assert himself more as he gets used to how the refs call the game. 

In the second game of the day, Joe Johnson scored 30 points in the Detroit Amps’ 50-48 win over the Chicago Triplets. Johnson made 12 field-goals and connected on four 3-point shots and one 4-point shot. He had 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. 

For the Triplets, Montrezl Harrell scored 18 points with 7 rebounds on eight makes, and Nasir Core put up 17 points with 8 rebounds on seven field-goal makes. Jason Richardson had 10 rebounds. 

In the remaining two games of the day, the Houston Rig Hands defeated the DMV Trilogy 50-46, and the Dallas Power defeated the Boston Ball Hogs 51-49. 

Corey Brewer led the Rig Hands with 17 points and 12 rebounds on eight made field-goals, while Jaylen Johnson added 12 points. Earl Clark’s 19 points (eight made field-goals, three triples) led the Trilogy. Franklin Session scored 18 and Isaiah Austin 13 points with 9 rebounds. 

In the final game of the day, Glen Rice Jr.’s 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists (eight field-goals) led the Dallas Power. Greg Monroe posted 16 points and 8 rebounds. Chris Johnson led the Ball Hogs with 23 points and 7 rebounds, and Jonathon Simmons scored 19 points with 6 rebounds. 

Week 2’s Big 3 action is in Baltimore from CFG Bank Arena on Sunday, January 22 at 1:00 p.m.