Valencia Basket advanced to the 7DAYS EuroCup Semifinals for the ninth time in club history thanks to great efficiency, which led it to a 98-85 home victory over Boulogne Metropolitans 92.
Telling numbers: Valencia's efficiency was the key
Valencia finished the game with 24 assists and just 11 turnovers. Martin Hermannsson was the difference-maker, finishing the game with 11 assists and no turnovers. That set a new club record and was close to the all-time mark - Nick Calathes of Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar had 14 assists without any turnovers in a game against Trefl Sopot on December 12, 2012. Metropolitans committed just 7 turnovers - its fewest in a game all season, but could only dish 15 assists, which tied for its second-lowest mark in the present campaign.
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Valencia's outstanding ball circulation translated into good shooting percentages. Valencia buried 26 of 37 two-point shots (70.3% 2FG) in this game. Jasiel Rivero made 7 of 8 shots inside the arc and Jaime Pradilla downed 5 of 6. The hosts converted 39.3% of their shots from downtown, 11 of 28, and 86.7% of their free-throw attempts, 13 of 15. Metropolitans had lower percentages from all angles (55.3% 2FG, 36.4% 3FG, 73.1% FT), taking more shots than Valencia inside the arc, 38, but getting fewer baskets, 21. All of that allowed Valencia to finish the game with a team PIR of 122.