BIG3 BASKETBALL FEELS THE LOVE IN INDIANAPOLIS LIVE ON CBS
– Triplets, Killer 3’s and Ghost Ballers Claim Victories in 2019 Season Opener –
– First-Year Coach Lisa Leslie Starts Inaugural Season with a Victory –
– Mayor Joe Hogsett Delivers Proclamation to Make June 23 “BIG3 Day” in Indianapolis –
Images licensed by Getty Images and BIG3.
If you do not have a subscription with Getty Images, email press@big3.com to request permission.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – June 23, 2019
- A roaring Bankers Life Fieldhouse was treated to an action-packed afternoon of professional basketball, as the BIG3 made its way to Indianapolis, Ind. for the first time in league history.
- Leading their respective teams to victory, standouts from each of the three games included Triplets’ Joe Johnson (27 pts, 16 reb), Killer 3’s Josh Powell (18 pts, 9 reb) and Ghost Ballers’ Jamario Moon (20 pts, 4 reb).
- Fourteen players selected from the 2019 BIG3 Draft made their league debuts Sunday in Indianapolis: Chris Johnson (Triplets), Josh Powell (Killer 3’s), Will McDonald (Ball Hogs), Yakhouba Diawara (Tri-State), Greg Oden (Aliens), Jamario Moon (Ghost Ballers), Donte Greene (Killer 3’s), Jason Richardson (Tri-State), Alan Anderson (Triplets), Alex Scales (Ghost Ballers), Brandon Rush (Aliens), Jermaine Taylor (Ball Hogs), C.J. Watson (Killer 3’s) and Mike Taylor (Ghost Ballers).
- During halftime of Sunday’s opening game, BIG3 co-founder Ice Cube accepted a proclamation from Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, naming June 23, “BIG3 Day.”
- In Week 2, BIG3 will make stops in Charlotte on Saturday (Spectrum Center, beginning at 12:00 p.m.) and Philadelphia on Sunday (Liacouras Center, beginning at 5:00 p.m.). The games will air live on CBS and CBS Sports Network, respectively.
Getty Images: https://www.gettyimages.com/search/2/image?agreements=pa:53674&events=775356072&family=editorial&sort=newest
Game Recaps:
Triplets 50 (1-0) vs Aliens 40 (0-1)
Video Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ2urNxD4jc
The opening game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse featured three players with Indiana ties in Greg Oden, Andre Owens and Brandon Rush all suiting up for Aliens. After a 12-2 run by Aliens opened the game, the Triplets, coached by former WNBA superstar Lisa Leslie, found the magic they needed to scratch their way back into the game.
Down 26-20 at the half, Leslie’s squad went on a 10-0 run to take the lead. The two brand new franchises continued to duel until the final whistle blew, but “ISO” Joe Johnson (27 pts, 16 reb) proved too much to overcome and earned their first victory in team history.
Triplets are 1-0; the Aliens are 0-1
Killer 3’s (54, 1-0) vs Tri-State (52, 0-1)
Video Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B3l7eIE54M
Amar’e Stoudemire, Jason Richardson and Nate Robinson welcomed first year player Yakhouba Diawara to the Tri-State squad as they attempted take down Killer 3’s.
Tri-State looked to be well on its way to victory after closing the first half with a 26-17 advantage. The Killer 3’s, however, had other plans in mind. Scratching and clawing back into contention, the Killer 3’s forced the game to be decided beyond the 50-point mark.
With the score standing 50-49 in favor of Tri-State, the Killer 3’s remained cool under pressure and a jumper by C.J. Watson saw the black and yellow squad go up by one. A quick response from Tri-State, a two-point bucket Richardson, reversed the lead back and once again put pressure on the opposition.
As the shot clock winded down, the ball fell into the hands of second round draft pick, Donte Greene. Greene watched as his shot from beyond the arc hit the bottom of the net, earning the Killer 3’s an opening weekend victory in dramatic fashion.
Killer 3’s open the season 1-0; Tri-State is 0-1
Ghost Ballers (50, 1-0) vs Ball Hogs (39, 0-1)
Video Highlights: https://youtu.be/s6ckCJRC_mc
Ghost Ballers and head coach George “The Iceman” Gervin pinned down their first win of the season, several weeks ahead of last year’s pace. The squad, which was without co-captain Carlos Boozer, was paced by the flashy play of Mike Taylor and high-percentage shooting from Jamario Moon (20 pts on 8-of-13 shooting).
The Ball Hogs, led by Will McDonald’s 17 points (on 8-of-12 shooting), kept things in close in the first half (23-26). Despite fighting throughout the game, and 10 points from both DeShawn Stephenson and Marcus Williams, they failed to claw their way back into contention. The Ghost Ballers’ new-look offense outscored the Hogs 24-16 in the second half.