Right from tip-off of game 1, you could feel the intensity in the air to start Week 5 of the BIG3. As we enter the second half of the season, the playoff push is heating up, and that includes a few teams with their seasons on the line heading into Sunday.Â
It was another week full of big-time performances in the BIG3, including a monstrous record-setting performance from Montrezl Harrell. With the Dallas Power loss, the Chicago Triplets remain as the only undefeated team left in the league, becoming the first to clinch a spot in the BIG3 Playoffs. On the flip side, the Detroit Amps are still the only team yet to win a game. To go along with a historic performance, there were also a handful of double-doubles that carried over from Week 4. There were big games across the league this week, and the stat sheet reflected that.
Top Week 5 Performances in the BIG3
Montrezl Harrell (Chicago Triplets)
Week 5 stats: 42 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
At full health, Chicago looks unstoppable. It was a dominating performance from the Triplets from start to finish, and you could say that individually for Harrell as well. This is just his second game of the season, yet he’s been the best player on the court so far. After missing the first two weeks with an injury, he exploded in his first game back in Week 3 with a whopping 34 points. Harrell was a late scratch in Week 4, but that didn’t stop him from putting up a record-breaking performance this week.
Harrell tallied the first 40-point performance in BIG3 history, surpassing Isaiah Briscoe’s record for most points scored in a game, which was 37. Oh, and he put up a double-double with 11 rebounds as well. Harrell looks like the most unstoppable player in the league this season and adds an even more lethal option to a team that went 3-0 without him. The Triplets are still undefeated at 5-0 and are by far the favorites to win the BIG3 Championship.
Michael Beasley (Miami 305)
Week 5 stats: 27 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
It was a must-win for the Miami 305 coming into Week 5, and Michael Beasley clearly understood that. He had 27 points this week and also grabbed 10 boards, notching his first double-double of the season. Beasley came out of the gates on fire and had Miami playing like the defending champs. He was locked in from the start, as he wanted little to do with trash talking or showboating and more to do with helping his team get the win.
Beasley now has secured back-to-back 20-point performances coming off his Week 3 suspension, scoring 23 last week. He put Miami right back in the thick of the playoff race. This was more along the lines of what we’re accustomed to seeing from the back-to-back MVP.
Jeremy Pargo (Boston Ball Hogs)
Week 5 stats: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 four-pointer
Jeremy Pargo once again shows why he’s been the best scorer in the BIG3 this season for all five weeks. He says he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder, but he’s sure playing like it. His 21 points marks the fourth consecutive week he’s scored 20+, just missing out on the mark in Week 1 when he scored 13.Â
He’s averaging over 20 points per game and leads the league in total points scored. Pargo has also been lethal from downtown, tied with the most three-pointers in the league, and has hit four from the four-point circle so far this season, including one today. It was a huge game in the standings for the Boston Ball Hogs as they improve to 3-2, compiling the biggest margin of victory of any team this season, 51-27 over the DMV Trilogy.
Nasir Core (Detroit Amps)
Week 5 stats: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
The Amps have yet to win a game this season, but that hasn’t stopped Nasir Core from showing off his talent. He stuffed the stat sheet this week, putting up 20 points and eight rebounds with two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Earlier in the season, he put up one of the top performances in the BIG3 when he tallied 31 points in Week 3. It seems like the Amps didn’t have a chance once it was announced that Joe Johnson would miss the campaign, but Core has done everything he could to try to get a win for his team, even if he falls short.
Isaiah Austin (Houston Rig Hands)
Week 5 stats: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks
From 10 losses in a row to 2 wins in a row, the Houston Rig Hands all of a sudden find themselves in the thick of things when it comes to the playoff picture. This week, they were led by Isaiah Austin, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds, both team highs on the day.
Austin recorded his second straight double-double, putting together a 12-point, 10-rebound performance last week. He’s come alive the last two weeks, and it’s helped Houston move to 2-3 on the season after starting 0-3, finding themselves in a four-way tie for fourth place.
Jonathon Simmons (Houston Rig Hands)
Week 5 stats: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
Jonathon Simmons has been Mr. Consistent and gotten better as the season has gone on. He’s been one of the best players in the BIG3 over the last several weeks, scoring 18 in Week 3, 19 in Week 4, and now 18 again in Week 5. His 18 points were accompanied by 10 rebounds, putting up his first double-double of the season after flirting with one a couple of times already.
He’s fueled the Rig Hands with a chance at the playoffs after all hope seemed lost over the first three games of the season.Â
Deshawn Stephens (Boston Ball Hogs)
Week 5 stats: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Pargo had some help this week in the form of Deshawn Stephens, who recorded his third consecutive double-digit game, and this one was the best of them all. He had his best game of the season to date as he recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. This after coming off an impressive 10-point, 16-rebound performance last week.
As seen, his rebounding prowess has been on display this season, especially over the last two weeks, as he leads the league in total rebounds with 43. The Ball Hogs are on pace to have their best season yet, and the duo of Pargo and Stephens has given them that hope.
Other Notable Performances:
Greg Monroe (Dallas Power): 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
Lance Stephenson (Miami 305): 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 four-pointer
Chris Johnson (Detroit Amps): 15 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist
Elijah Stewart (Dallas Power): 12 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Earl Clark (DMV Trilogy): 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Glen Rice Jr. (Dallas Power): 11 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block
Jordan Crawford (LA Riot): 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Kosta Koufas (LA Riot): 10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Week 5 Scores:
Miami 305 51, Dallas Power 44
Chicago Triplets 50; LA Riot 31
Boston Ball Hogs 51; DMV Trilogy 27
Houston Rig Hands 51; Detroit Amps 44
Week 6 Schedule (July 23rd and July 26th):
Boston Ball Hogs (3-2) vs LA Riot (2-3) – July 23rd
Detroit Amps (0-5) vs Chicago Triplets (5-0) – July 23rd
DMV Trilogy (2-3) vs Miami 305 (2-3) – July 26th
Houston Rig Hands (2-3) vs Dallas Power (4-1) – July 26th
Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
