By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Enjoying a double-digit advantage most of the way and T.J. Shorts II sinking key free throws down the stretch, Telekom Baskets Bonn earned the home win, 84-77, against ALBA Berlin Tuesday.
An 11-0 sprint for the team based in Berlin cut the lead to two points before Shorts tucked in seven of his game-high 20 points in crunch time to secure the win in the easyCredit BBL Regular Season Round 31 contest. The MVP favorite in both Germany’s league and the Basketball Champions League set yet another game-high with seven assists.
Dropping 7/11 field goals, including 4/6 three-pointers, Tyson Ward threw in 18 more points powering a game-high efficiency rating of 29. Sidelined since late December, Jeremy Morgan stayed on the injury list.
Remaining the only undefeated team at home in the 2022-23 edition of Germany’s top-flight division, Tuomas Iisalo’s side never trailed except for a short-lived one-point deficit early in the first quarter. Improving to 28-2 and forcing the visitors to 29-3 combined with banking in the tiebreaker advantage can go a long way in securing homecourt advantage throughout the Playoffs.
Gabriele Procida was a healthy scratch joining Marcus Eriksson (foot) and Tamir Blatt (right thump) on the sidelines for the team coached by Israel Gonzalez. Driving the late comeback bid, Jaleen Smith ended up with 17 points in Telekom Dome.
BBL Round 31
Brose Bamberg – Niners Chemnitz 95-83
Telekom Baskets Bonn – ALBA Berlin 84-77
ratiopharm Ulm – EWE Baskets Oldenburg 97-84
Basketball Lowen Braunschweig – Fraport Skyliners 86-71
Veolia Towers Hamburg – Hakro Merlins Crailsheim 77-66
FC Bayern Munich – Rostock Seawolves (26/4)
medi Bayreuth – MLP Academics Heidelberg (26/4)
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg – Syntainics MBC (26/4)
Wurzburg Baskets – BG Gottingen (27/4)
STANDINGS: ALBA Berlin 29-3, Bonn 28-2, Bayern 24-6, Oldenburg 19-12, Ludwigsburg 17-13, Gottingen 17-13…
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League