The two guards scored more than half of their team’s points in the 82-85 road win
Rasheed Sulaimon, McKinley Wright carried Buducnost on their shoulders at Ulm
Article
3 Mins read
Heading into the game against fellow BKT EuroCup playoff contender ratiopharm Ulm, Buducnost VOLI Podgorica's players and coaching staff had flagged Wednesday’s clash at ratiopharm Arena as a must-win duel. Having beaten Ulm 105-100 in overtime back in Round 7, any victory would be enough for Buducnost to claim the head-to-head tiebreak advantage.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, important for us and for the home team,” Buducnost head coach Andrej Zakelj said in the post-game press conference.
And when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Rasheed Sulaimon and McKinley Wright came to the fore when their team needed them most and inspired Buducnost to an 82-85 road victory by posting season-highs in scoring. The two men netted 29 of Buducnost’s 51 points before the break and finished the game with a combined 45 points – more than half of their team’s output.
Game Videos
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Tanaskovic lowers the boom! Magic Moment
Sulaimon recorded a season-high 27 points, just 3 points shy from his career-high tally. He went 4-for-6 from inside the arc, 4-for-10 from deep and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. More importantly, he completed a crucial three-point play to put Buducnost back in front, 82-84, with 28 seconds to go. The visitors were leading for the majority of the game, but a second-half comeback saw Ulm secure an 82-79 cushion with 1 minute left on the clock.
Enter Wright, who made 2 of 2 from the charity stripe before setting up Sulaimon in transition for the aforementioned three-point play. Wright ended the game with 18 points, matching his season-high tally that was achieved in Buducnost’s home win over Ulm earlier in the season. The 26-year-old guard pulled off a complete display by posting 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals for a season-high PIR of 24.
This win saw Buducnost improve its record to 8-8 to remain in the playoff conversation. Zakelj’s side has now won four of its last five games and will look to build on their momentum with a potential victory over Joventut Badalona next week. To do so, Buducnost will lean again on Sulaimon and Wright following their outstanding performance at Ulm.