Nasir Core’s absolute monster second-half surge locked down the Detroit Amps’ first win of the season on Thursday night, finally toppling the previously unbeaten Chicago Triplets 52-49 at Little Caesars Arena. Talk about making a statement in Week 6 of the BIG3 season, right?
Core Takes Control in a Wild Back-and-Forth Battle
This game was a slugfest from the jump, man. Montrezl Harrell and Corey Brewer went layup for layup to kick things off, and you could feel the intensity. They were neck-and-neck before BOOM, the Triplets hit an 11-2 scoring run that felt like a gut punch. Things got spicy with those “Bring the Fire” matchups, too. Harrell went at Brewer but missed his shot. Then Core went toe-to-toe with Leandro Barbosa, scoring two points and drawing another foul. He was seeing action all over the court, taking a charge and drawing a foul from Brandon Moss twice, proving he was ready to put his team on his back. Donte Greene checked back in for the Amps and snagged them their first lead, 22-21, but the Triplets weren’t having it, closing out the half with a 25-22 advantage.
Momentum Swings and a Clutch Finish
You just knew the Amps weren’t letting go this time, though. Core said it himself about the final moments, “We done been here a lot of times, and we got to finish this one.” He felt they’d let the rope go every time before, but not tonight. Harrell started the second half with a monster 4-pointer, but Core was right there to respond with his own. After Harrell missed another “Bring of Fire” against Henry Sims, Core stepped up and made his shot against Wesley Johnson, turning the tide for real. The momentum was absolutely pumping, and Core made it a three-point game. Then Amps Johnson tied it up 43-43 with a three of his own. These squads kept trading blows, tying again at 49-49. This was anybody’s game! But it was Core who delivered the knockout punch, draining a game-winning 3-pointer to seal the 52-49 upset. The dude was on fire, leading the Amps with 24 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Harrell, coming off a wild 42-point game, still put up a game-high 34 points and 13 boards, but it wasn’t enough.
Man, what a win for the Amps! Their first of the season against an unbeaten team? That’s electric. Core’s already looking ahead, saying they need to “replicate this whole recipe to do it again next weekend.” He wants them to “Stay confident, play fun, and compete.” If they can bottle up that Detroit energy and Core’s clutch gene, who knows what they can do next week. Get ready for more fireworks, BIG3 fans!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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