By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Bouncing back from two home losses at the top of a best-of-five series, Unicaja defeats UCAM Murcia, 74-66, on Saturday.
Avoiding a sweep in the Semifinals of Spain’s Liga Endesa Playoffs, the Basketball Champions League champions trail 2-1 ahead of another challenge in Palacio de Deportes de Murcia on Monday.
Building on 15 unanswered points to start Game 3, the Malaga outfit stretched the advantage over 20 points for large stretches. Dylan Osetkowski tallied a game-high 18 points behind 6/11 field goals. Kendrick Perry followed with 14 points, including three triples. Yankuba Sima posted a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Besides missing Augusto Lima (illness), head coach Ibon Navarro saw Tyson Carter limping off the court due to a left calf injury with 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. The 26-year-old guard contributed eight points over 19 minutes until the early exit.
For the Universitarios, Marko Todorovic (Achilles) and Simon Birgander (right ankle) have been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, and Arturs Kurucs (personal) missed Game 3 as well. Dustin Sleva stood out with 15 points in a losing effort.
ACB Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
A – Unicaja – BAXI Manresa 2-0 (87-79, 86-63)
B – Valencia – UCAM Murcia 1-2 (86-96, 83-72, 77-84)
C – Real Madrid – Dreamland Gran Canaria 2-0 (105-70, 73-71)
D – FC Barcelona – Lenovo Tenerife 2-0 (96-86, 97-92)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
Unicaja – UCAM Murcia 1-2 (79-88, 83-101, 74-66)
Real Madrid – FC Barcelona 2-0 (97-78, 104-98)
Finals (best-of-five)
Winners of Semifinals
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League