By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Telekom Baskets Bonn showed again that they belong to the top of the easyCredit BBL, but even with an exceptional performance from their playmaker T.J. Shorts, they couldn’t surprise Alba at Berlin, as the host took an 81-76 win.
Yet again, Alba won as a team, with ten players in the scoring chart, led by Tamir Blatt with 13 points.
Johannes Thiemann followed with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Ben Lammers added 12 points. Yannick Wetzell was the last with a double-digit performance with 10 points.
Yanni Wetzell aufmerksam ⚡ Steal, Dunk, zwei Punkte! pic.twitter.com/kk3UxOSgh3
— ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) January 15, 2023
Shorts was the only Bonn player in the right mood, scoring 30 points with five assists and seven rebounds. Though he shot 23 times from the field, hitting the target only ten times, and had 1/8 from beyond the arc, all for a PIR of 25.
Collin Malcolm followed him with 11 points, while Leon Kratzer went near a double-double with eight points and rebounds.
Alba had control for most of the first quarter, but Bonn took the lead at the end and went to the break with a 23-20 lead.
The hosts regained the lead midway through the second period and had a 48-44 advantage at halftime.
❌ ACCESS DENIED! ❌
Louis Olinde blockt TJ Shorts spektakulär. pic.twitter.com/EiM8PzSPwD— ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) January 15, 2023
The third quarter was a true rollercoaster, with the lead changing sides multiple times, but eventually, it was Bonn who entered the final 10 minutes with a minimal 63-62 lead.
Israel Gonzalez’s side made a crucial run 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, gained a 78-69 lead, and managed to stay in front until the end for their 13th win in BBL (13-1), as Bonn suffered their second defeat of the season (13-2).