The 3-on-3 half-court basketball league returns to Toyota Center on Friday night. Big3/Facebook
The BIG3 is coming to Houston and will feature some of the most competitive summer basketball in the world. Commissioner Clyde Drexler appeared on The Blitz to talk about his involvement with The Big3 and how the competition has significantly heated up in just its second year. The BIG3 was founded by actor and musician Ice Cube and entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz. “Those guys are incredibly addicted to the sport of basketball,” Drexler says of Ice Cube and Kwatinetz.
Ex-NBA players such as Al Harrington and Amar’e Stoudemire will play half-court, 3-on-3 basketball. The eight teams will be coached by Hall of Fame coaches like Nancy Lieberman and Gary Payton. “We’ve got more Hall of Fame coaches than any other professional league in the world,” Drexler notes. “It’s a groundbreaking league,” he says. “We’re breaking barriers.” In its second season, the league will have plenty of new names to fill their rosters. “The BIG3 is here to stay.” The BIG3 not only makes stops around the country to put on a unique and entertaining show for basketball fans, but also gives back to the communities that they travel to.
Its Young3 program allows young basketball fans to play in tournaments while also making a difference in the communities that host the league. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to see what Drexler describes as “the best basketball being played around the world.” Week 1 will take over the Toyota Center on Friday, June 22. Game 1 begins at 6:30. Games will also be broadcast on Fox or FS1 each Friday night.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.