By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Theo Maledon not only scored 25 points but was a true leader for LDLC ASVEL, turning things around on a seemingly lost game for the big 76-69 win over Baskonia.
Neal Sako added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side, saving the best for last, and finished the game correctly.
Chima Moneke with 18 points was the top scorer of Baskonia, Donta Hall added 15 and Kamar Baldwin scored 10.
“It was the energy that allowed us to come back, not our basketball: during the last five minutes, the guys made a considerable effort,” said ASVEL coach Pierric Poupet about the resilience of his team.
And for one more game, Baskonia shot just 6/23 threes with Markus Howard having seven points on 1/6 threes and the two teams now share a 2-2 record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
A run to remember
The hosts started the game with a 13-2 run from the home side, which led by eight at the end of the period (20-12) and by 12 (38-26) at halftime.
However, Baskonia turned things around in the third period which had a partial score of 28-15. The game changed and Baskonia entered the last period leading by one (54-53).
The guests managed to build an 11-point advantage (67-56) with five minutes left and everything seemed lost for ASVEL.
Still, the game was not over.
The French side got a 17-0 run including two free throws and a three-pointer by Maledon after an unsportsmanlike foul on Hall to take the lead back (73-67) one and a half minutes before the final buzzer and Baskonia couldn’t react.
Photo credit: EuroLeague