By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
It was simply crazy how easily Pedro Martinez’s players were making buckets from downtown tonight in “Martin Carpena”.
Baskonia tied its franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a single EuroLeague (post-2000) game, by finishing with 17 (out of 34). They were red-hot, especially in the first half where they hit 9/16.
Still, they got just a close 85-83 road win and it might’ve been all for naught however if not for Tornike Shengelia’s decision-making and Janis Timma’s calm touch in the final moments of the match.
After Alberto Diaz tied the game 83 – 83 with 15 seconds remaining, the ball went to Shengelia for the final play. It was natural. His hands are the most consistent in his team this season.
The Georgian power forward drove through the opposing defense, attracted the attention of no less than four players and then passed with ideal precision and timing to Timma who moved excellently off the ball.
Lay-up. No time for a sufficient reaction. Game over.
Janis Timma for THE WIN. pic.twitter.com/lLFy9DK3zF
— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) January 25, 2018
Timma finished with 17 points while Shengelia dropped 13, taking the torch from Jayson Granger who was kept silent following the buzz he made in the first 20minutes.
Granger alone had 4/4 and 14 points in the first half while Baskonia went to the locker rooms for the halftime break after punishing every single mistake Unicaja Malaga made in its weak side defense, to notch that phenomenal 9/16 from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, their opponents shot with the poor 2/10 from the perimeter.
Strangely, the halftime score 46 – 43 for the Basques didn’t reflect that difference. And while Baskonia kept firing, even though its shooting efficiency got diminished, Unicaja kept being close by winning the ball-possession game thanks to their offensive rebounding (13/7) and fewer turnovers (9/14).
You should also put blame on Nemanja Nedovic. The Serbian guard was questionable throughout the whole week yet not only did he play but also delivered a game-high 19 points. He wasn’t enough, however.
Giorgi Shermadini added 12 points in his frontline duel with fellow Georgian Shengelia and Ray McCallum added 11 for Joan Plaza’s team that has fallen to 8 – 11 and the 10th place in the standings. Meanwhile, Baskonia climbed to 9 – 10 and went one step ahead in the race for the EuroLeague playoffs.