Euroleague Friday recap
The Friday action in the Euroleague saw some shock results and some bankers that went to the wire. Looking across Group’s A through D, the competition is tight and the standings compact, especially in Group A where all the clubs are sitting on 1-1 records.
Group A
Strasbourg vs. Fenerbahce Istanbul, 91-70
Strasbourg proved much too strong for Fenerbahce at home in France by putting on a fine offensive display. It was Strasbourg’s first Euroleague victory of the season and was enough to mean that Group A is locked after two games, with all clubs sitting on 1-1 records. Fenerbahce made the early running and through ten minutes opened a 21-24 lead, but Strasbourg soon emerged and used a 28-17 second frame run to amass a 49-41 lead at halftime. The Turkish guests edged the third stanza 16-17, but the hosts raced again in the fourth to secure a big home win.
Kyle Weems led the winning effort with 22 points and Rodrigue Beaubois added 14 points, with Mardy Collins adding 12 points.
Bogdan Bogdanovic topped Fenerbahce with 12 points and Pero Antic took 11 points.
Group B
Laboral Kutxa Vitoria vs. Olympiacos Pireaus, 96-89
Laboral Kutxa moved into the chasing pack on 1-1 behind Group B leaders Anadolu Efes (2-0) by defeating Olympiacos at home in a high octane contest that went to overtime. The Spanish home team took an early lead and by halftime had moved 9 points clear, with the scoreboard reading 48-39. Olympiacos chipped into the deficit in the third act, but still trailed 69-63 through thirty minutes before finding a rally in the fourth to tie the contest 80-80 through regulation. After losing the second half, Laboral Kutxa turned the momentum back in their favour in the added overtime period to win the game.
Ioannis Bourousis proved he still has Euroleague chops with a massive 28 points in the win, while 12 rebounds ensured an impressive double-double. Adam Hanga was next in line with 17 points and Mike James logged 13 points.
Group C
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Lokmotiv Kuban Krasnodar, 74-76
Lokomotiv claimed sole possession of top spot in Group C (2-0) with a hard fought road win over Zalgiris of Lithuania. A first half of extremes hurt the Kaunas hosts as they started hot with a 31-27 winning first quarter but then collapsed in the second. In that frame Lokomotiv stormed into the lead by claiming the period 9-16 for a 40-43 halftime advantage. Nothing could separate the teams in the third, the score locked at 17 points apiece. Zalgiris tried to rally, but in the end the guests from Krasnodar managed to hold on in the closing seconds.
Malcom Delaney is always a threat for Lokomotiv and here he secured 21 points and added 5 rebounds, followed by Ryan Broekhoff with 13 points and 6 boards.
Ian Vouggioukas led Zalgiris with 22 points.
FC Barcelona vs. Stelmet Zielona Gora, 78-72
Barcelona got back to winning ways in the Euroleague after losing in the opening round last week. The Catalan giant was still far from convincing in seeing off a Stelmet team at in Barcelona though. The visiting Polish TBL champions led 19-20 after ten minutes, but Barcelona hit back in the second to go into the long break leading 43-37. The hosts extended in the third, using a 21-20 streak to secure a 64-57 lead at the final split. In the fourth Barca done the hard work and looked professional if unspectacular in closing out the game.
Samardo Samuels topped Barcelona with 22 points, while Tomas Satoransky and Juan Carlos Navarro contributed 10 points each.
Mateusz Ponitka and Dejan Borovnjak both scored 15 points to pace Stelmet Zielona Gora, followed by Vlad Moldoveanu with 14 points.
Group D
Brose Baskets Bamberg vs. Darussafaka, 86-76
Brose Baskets Bamberg used home court advantage to down a Darussafaka team riding high after victory last week in the opening round. The Germans were in control early on and through the midway buzzer headed into the locker room leading 36-27. The scoring picked up in the third act yet Bamberg stayed one step ahead with a 31-29 run that ended the contest with a quarter to spare. Darussafaka Istanbul could not respond and the host’s road out a comfortable win down the straight.
Darius Miller led the hosts with 13 points, a number Janis Strelnieks also managed.
Milko Bjelica topped the visitors with 16 points, while Ender Arslan, Jamon Gordon, and Serhat Cetin all logged 12 points.