LaMelo Ball Drops Near Triple-Double; Big Ballers Beat Play Smart Play Hard

After losing to Zion Williamson's SC Supreme Wednesday, LaMelo Ball and Big Baller Brand bounced back with a 111-102 victory over Play Hard Play Smart Thursday. 

Ball was outstanding once again in the exhibition, flirting with a triple-double while finishing with 38 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the victory.

Although Jordan Brown tallied 33 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks for Play Hard Play Smart, his squad simply couldn't keep up in the fast-paced battle.

Ball gets a lot of attention as the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball but is also considered a 5-star recruit in the 2019 class by Scout.com.

However, Brown showed that he shouldn't be overlooked as a 5-star recruit in his own right, considered the No. 11 player in the 2018 class by Scout.

During the first half, ESPN's Myron Medcalf called Brown the "most dominant player on the court and it's not close."

The 6'10" forward was on the boards and could not be stopped inside.

Bleacher Report's Reid Forgrave mocked the Big Ballers' defensive struggles:

It was enough for Play Hard Play Smart to overcome an early deficit and build up a 57-46 lead at halftime.

However, the Big Ballers played fast in the second half and started hitting their shots. Ball was a key part of the success, making an impact both as a scorer and a passer:

Although his efficiency remains a question mark as he finished 13-of-31 from the field, including 2-of-9 from three-point range, his all-around game was impressive. William Pluma (28 points) and Elijah Harkless (21 points) also played a big role in the high-scoring game.

LaVar Ball's squad took over the lead and wouldn't give it up. They used an 11-3 run to close the game while turning a 100-99 advantage into a nine-point win.

Of course, LaVar also had his own theatrics while waiting on the referees to get the game going:

Still, it was LaMelo that was the star in this one. After struggling to keep up with Williamson Wednesday night, he outdueled another top player in Brown, even when the big man was doing everything he could to lead his team to victory.

Big Ballers will continue their run at the Cashman Center Friday with a matchup against Team BBC and point guard Immanuel Quickley. Play Hard Play Smart will face Williamson and SC Supreme.