ALBA Berlin snapped a three-game losing streak by downing TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 77-84 at Buesa Arena on Friday.
ALBA gets first win at Buesa Arena
Game Report
1 Min read
ALBA Berlin snapped a three-game losing streak by downing TD Systems Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 77-84 at Buesa Arena on Friday. ALBA improved to 8-13 in the standings while Baskonia dropped to 9-12. Marcus Eriksson hit a buzzer-beating triple to give ALBA a 18-21 lead after 10 minutes. Achille Polonara and Rokas Giedraitis stepped up after that, allowing Baskonia to get a 50-46 lead at halftime. Eriksson and Simone Fontecchio fueled a 0-12 run that put ALBA in charge, 61-67, at the end of the third quarter. Baskonia managed to get within 71-74 but Eriksson scored in penetration and Maodo Lo buried a three-pointer that made ALBA cruise to a well-deserved win. Peyton Siva led the winners with 14 points. Lo and Eriksson each added 13 while Eriksson had 11 for ALBA. Polonara led Baskonia with 23 points while Luca Vildoza and Giedraitis each added 10.
Regular Season
Round 21 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Fontecchio got ALBA going with a layup, and got help from Lammers and Jayson Granger to give the guests a 2-9 lead. Giedraitis, Polonara and Zoran Dragic each struck from downtown to tie it at 11-11. Polonara bettered Eriksson's jumper with a triple to give Baskonia its first lead, 14-13. Siva joined the three-point shootout, added a coast-to-coast layup and fed Eriksson for a corner triple that gave ALBA a 18-21 lead after 10 minutes. Tim Schneider struck from beyond the arc early in the second quarter. Dragic stepped up with 5 quick points, Polonara buried a triple and Tadas Sedekerskis added a three-point play for a 29-27 Baskonia lead. Louis Olinde erased Polonara's layup with a dunk and Lo sank a three-pointer to make ALBA regain a 31-32 lead. Pierria Henry scored in penetration and found Sedekerskis for another three-point play. Siva insisted from downtown but Giedraitis hit a floater and a triple in a 7-0 run highlighted by Polonara's slam. Alec Peters hit his first three-pointer and Vildoza scored off a steal, but Siva and Fontecchio kept ALBA within 50-46 at halftime.
Granger took over with a backdoor layup soon after the break and Luke Sikma added a triple for a 50-51 ALBA lead. Henry and Peters rescued Baskonia but Eriksson and Fontecchio fueled a 0-12 run that Johannes Thiemann capped with a three-pointer for a 54-63 ALBA lead. Sedekerskis scored down low and Vildoza added a layup and a three-pointer to give Baskonia hope, 61-67, after 30 minutes. Arturs Kurucs and Polonara each buried a triple to get Baskonia within 67-69 early in the fourth quarter. Lammers buried back-to-back jumpers and added an alley-oop slam to restore a 69-75 ALBA lead. Eriksson hit a one-handed floater which Polonara bettered with a three-point play. Giedraitis added a reverse layup that made the guests call timeout, 74-77, with 2 minutes left. Eriksson slashed for a layup and Lo buried a critical three-pointer that sealed the outcome, 74-82, as Baskonia never recovered.
Game Leaders
Pivotal performer
Jayson Granger had an all-round game against his former team, making sure that ALBA was in a good position to win the game. He finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals - matching his personal-best - for a team-high PIR of 17.
Game-changing moment
Baskonia led 54-51 midway through the third quarter but Marcus Eriksson hit a floater and Simone Fontecchio added a close basket and a three-pointer in a 0-12 run which Johannes Thiemann capped with his own shot from downtown. ALBA got a 54-63 lead and managed it well until the final buzzer.
Stellar stat
ALBA outrebounded Baskonia by 30-39 and shot the ball much better, in general terms. ALBA hit 18-of-32 two-pointers (56.3%) and 13-of-28 shots from downtown (46.4%), keeping Baskonia to much lower percentages (47.5% 2FG, 35.5% 3FG).
Did you know?
It was ALBA's first win against Baskonia at Buesa Arena. Baskonia had previously beaten ALBA at home three times - 94-81 in 2004 with 28 points from Arvydas Macijauskas, 106-65 in 2008 behind 27 points from Igor Rakocevic, and 73-72 last season, when Toko Shengelia had 24 points.