Zielona Gora beat Tsmoki-Minsk at home in overtime – 102:96 (23:21, 21:24, 19:26, 21:13, 18:12)
Top scorers
Zielona Gora: Jaroslaw Zyskowski (21), Ludvig Hakanson (19 + 8 assists), Drew Gordon (17 + 12 rebounds + 7 assists), Tony Meier (17)
Tsmoki-Minsk: Robert Lowery (19 + 5 rebounds), Dominez Burnett (17 + 6 assists), Maksim Salash (17 + 6 assists), Aliaksei Trastsinetski (13 + 7 assists), Branko Mirkovic (11 + 6 assists), Alexandr Pustahvar (10)
Story
Tsmoki in the last round managed to get the first victory this season, Zielona Gora are eager to get into the eight of the best teams in the League.
The first quarter turned out to be equal, although Zielona Gora managed to put Tsmoki in the position of the losing side immediately. In the second quarter, the leader changed several times, but shortly before the end of the first half, Maksim Salash and Alexander Pustahvar helped their team go on a break as leaders, even with a minimum difference – 45:44.
Now the hosts were forced to turn the tables. However, the Dragons gained momentum and were not going to give the rivals the initiative. In the middle of the third quarter at the equal score, Robert Lowery started the run of the guests 8:0. The team of Zan Tabak chased them, but Branko Mirkovic kept the 8-point advantage of his team with 5 points in a row over the final game part.
Key moment
Three minutes before the end of the quarter long-range shot by Robert Lowery made the advantage of Tsmoki double-digit – 81:71. And yet, Zielona Gora didn’t give up. Lukasz Koszarek woke up – the accurate three-pointer and the end-one reduced the gap between the teams to 4 points. The next hero was Tony Meier – 11-0 spurt, and Zielona Gora is pulled ahead again! Aliaksei Trastsinetski equalized the score with the next three-point “bomb”, and the last possessions of both teams did not become effective – and it is an overtime.
An extra 5-minute was eventful. Opponents exchanged productive offensive possessions, but the key episode occurred 18 seconds before the end. Drew Gordon rebounded the ball after a miss by Tony Meier and put it to the basket – 98:95! The intentional foul frenzy began, in which Maksim Salash was forced to receive an unsportsmanlike foul, fouling a quick attack by the hosts. Jaroslaw Zyskowski confidently implemented both penalties, gaining a “hundred” for Zielona Gora, and the ball remained in possession of the hosts, who now calmly brought the match to victory – 102: 96.
Hero
Drew Gordon. The Zielona Gora’s center had one of the best games of the season – he was only three assists away from the triple double, and in the end of overtime it was his offensive rebound and the points scored after were decisive.
Stat
13 points – the maximum lead of Tsmoki-Minsk in the fourth quarter, which Zielona Gora was able to come back.
Comments
Zielona Gora’s head coach Zan Tabak:
– Each of our victories in the VTB United League is a miracle. Today we were losing 13 points, but were able to show team spirit and achieve the desired result. Much did not work out, especially in the offence. In defense, we could not cope with the positional rallies of the opponent.
Tsmoki-Minsk’s head coach Rostislav Vergun:
– Great game – I’m sure fans liked it. Basketball is the best sport. Zielona Gora is a very organized, coaching team. We had a chance to win, but in the end we began to simplify everything, we wanted to achieve the result on the cheap. We had open shots, but failed to realize them at crucial moments.
Next
Zielona Gora: December 22 at home against Astana
Tsmoki-Minsk: December 21 at a party against Parma
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