© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

BIG3 Postseason Electrifies the American Airlines Center With Largest Crowd In Its History

Postseason basketball was played in the American Airlines Center this Friday, but not by the Dallas Mavericks, it was the BIG3 that came to town. The Dallas crowd welcomed the BIG3, bringing an energy a playoff type atmosphere deserved. BIG3 set an all-time high in attendance with a total of 16,402 fans turning out in Dallas.

#1 seed Power vs #4 seed Tri-State:

First playoff matchup of the night came with Power taking on Tri-State. Power came looking for revenge against Tri-State who handed them their only loss of the season in week 3 where Corey Maggette poured in a season-high 34 points.

Maggette and Power led the entire game until after the halftime break where Tri-State came out of the gates scoring in the second half after Power missed opportunities and grabbed their first lead at 31-29 on the heels of a 6-0 scoring run. Shortly after a quick timeout in the ballgame, BIG3 MVP candidate Maggette knocked down back to back three-pointers to ignite what would later become an 11-2 run to give Power a 40-35 advantage.

The late game push from Glen “Big Baby” Davis was more than needed as Maggette continued to battle a hamstring issue in recent weeks. Davis was able to avoid injury after a hard foul and managed to step up to the line and knock down the game winning free throw and allow Power to advance to the Championship game after a 51-49 win. Davis scored 7 of their last 9 points and ended with 15 points, 6 rebounds, as well as 3 steals. Maggette led all scorers at 16 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Hawkins ended with 15 for Tri-State and Jermaine O’Neal posted a 14 point and 11 rebound double-double.

#2 seed 3 Headed Monsters vs #3 seed 3’s Company:

The final playoff matchup of the night was between 3 Headed Monsters and 3’s Company. Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and Head Coach Gary Payton’s 3 Headed Monsters squad came into today hoping to get themselves back in the BIG3 Finals once again, but that plan was thwarted by 3’s Company.

After an early burst in the game from Dahntay Jones momentum shifted dramatically after halftime as 3’s Company scored at will and never looked back allowing just 14 points in the second half from the 3 Headed Monsters putting them away, 50-28, in a lopsided affair and Jason Maxiell hitting the game winner. Payton’s squad was simply no match without last year's BIG3 MVP Rashard Lewis this time around. Evans was the leading scorer for 3 Headed Monsters with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Dallas native and BIG3 MVP candidate Andre Emmett led his 3’s Company squad to victory with a game-high 25 points.

The BIG3 Championship matchup is set for next week as Power takes on 3’s Company with two first year BIG3 coaches at the helm in Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman (Power) and Former LA Laker Michael Cooper (3’s Company). The game is set to begin next Friday August 24th on FOX in Brooklyn, NY at 7pm CT.