By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Bayern Munich never trailed in the game and led for most of it by double digits. However, in the end, was tested by feisty Zalgiris, but got the 77-74 win which created at least for one day a two-way tie in the top of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings.
Yes, Bayern and Zalgirs share the top with a 6-2 record and they are waiting for the results of Panathinaikos, Barcelona, and Fenerbahce to see who will come in their company tomorrow.
Carsen Edwards with 24 points, five rebounds, and five assists was the star of the winning side, Devin Booker added 15 points and Andreas Obst had 12.
“I am just happy to win, it’s a long season and we have to keep going,” said a pretty calm Edwards after the final buzzer.
Zalgiris got 20 points from Sylvain Fransisco, 18 of them in the second half, and 15 from Edgaras Ulanovas which were not enough.
Lonny Walker in his first EuroLeague game had 0/8 FG, one assist, and two turnovers in 13 minutes of action.
Bayern survived a scare in the end
Bayern Munich dominated at the start of the game, having a 19-7 lead after the end of the first period and building a 14-point advantage (23-9) with Carsen Edwards already scoring eight points.
The game was balanced in the second period and that means Bayern kept their distance, leading again by 14 (36-22) and closing the first half up by 10 (38-28).
The Germans were in the driver’s seat, with a 15-point lead (55-40) and an 11-point cushion entering the last period (58-57).
Zalgiris didn’t give up. With five minutes left, it was a six-point game (63-57), and by tooth and claw, it trimmed the lead to two (68-67) with less than three minutes left in the game.
Nick Weiler-Babb made two crucial free throws to make the score 70-67 and Edwards made it 72-68, while Fransisco and Giedriatis missed two threes.
With 45 seconds left, Zalgiris called a time-out, but Fransisco missed again and Edwards scored for the 74-68. This time Fransisco made a three (74-71) with 26 seconds left, Edwards got fouled and made his free throws (76-71).
Fransisco scored again a three (76-74) and Weiler-Babb was fouled, making one of two (77-74). With 4.1 left, Bayern decided to foul and not risk a three, and Fransisco was fouled.
He missed the first free throw and then decided to miss the second on purpose, Laurynas Birutis got the offensive rebound, but Brady Manek missed at the buzzer the chance to send the game to overtime.
Photo credit: EuroLeague
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