Strasbourg breaks losing streak, beats Bamberg
Strasbourg registered its first Turkish Airlines Euroleague win since 2005 by downing Brose Baskets Bamberg 83-72 in Group B on Friday. Strasbourg improved to 1-5, while Bamberg ties with Zalgiris Kaunas for fourth place, each with a 2-4 record. Ricardo Greer paced the winners with 21 points. Alexis Ajinca added 16, Jeremy Leloup had 12 and Tim Abromaitis 11, while Louis Campbell dished 8 assists for Strasbourg. Zach Wright had 13 points for Bamberg while Jamar Smith added 10. A three-pointer by Greer gave Strasbourg a 17-14 lead after 10 minutes. A 0-8 run that Karsten Tadda capped with a fast break layup gave Bamberg a 25-28 margin midway through the second quarter. Greer and Campbell allowed Strasbourg to tie the game, 37-37, at halftime. The hosts improved their defense after the break, while Ajinca and Greer fueled a game-breaking 16-0 run that put Strasbourg ahead for good, 57-43. Bamberg managed to get within 62-54, but Strasbourg stayed focused and cruised to a long-awaited Euroleague win.
First quarter: Ajinca, Greer give Strasbourg the lead
Ajinca got Strasbourg going with a layup, as Bamberg picked up three early turnovers. Wright stepped up with a reverse layup, which Abromaitis matched with a close basket. Ajinca kept pacing Strasbourg with a layup in transition for a 6-2 lead. Bamberg struggled to score, as Strasbourg was all over the passing lines, not allowing open shots. A good defensive stop by Ajinca allowed Paul Lacombe to score off the baseline at the other end for an 8-2 Strasbourg margin. Wright slashed for a slam and Anton Gavel bettered Ajinca's jump hook with a three-pointer. Greer came off the bench and immediately scored in transition to extend the hosts' lead to 12-7. Wright made free throws and a mid-range jumper by Philipp Neumann brought Bamberg as close as 12-11. Romain Duport hit foul shots, but Neumann singlehandedly tied the game, 14-14. A catch-and-shoot triple by Greer put Strasbourg back ahead, 17-14, after 10 minutes.
Second quarter: Bamberg holds on through a team effort
Casey Jacobsen nailed a wide open triple early in the second quarter and a fast break layup by Jamar Smith gave Bamberg its first lead, 17-19. Duport buried a four-meter jumper and Abromaitis followed a put-back layup with a fast break basket to put Strasbourg back ahead, 23-19. Neumann split free throws and Ajinca shined with a big basket in the low post. Damir Markota swished a six-meter jumper and a jump hook by Maik Zirbes brought Bamberg within 25-24. Rakim Sanders scored around the basket and a fast break layup by Karsten Tadda gave the guests a 25-28 edge, after a 0-8 run. Greer made free throws, but Zirbes matched that with another jump hook. Greer insisted with a layup in transition and a free throw by Antoine Diot tied it at 30-30. Sharrod Ford, Gavel and Diot made free throws. Smith struck from downtown, but a layup by Greer kept Strasbourg within 34-37. A three-pointer by Louis Campbell tied the game, 37-37, at halftime.
Third quarter: 16-0 run puts Strasbourg in charge
Wright scored in penetration immediately after the break, but Diot quickly answered with a baseline jumper. Gavel made free throws and Greer tied the game again, 41-41. Ford scored down low, but Ajinca shined with a jump hook and a layup by Jeremy Leloup put Strasbourg back ahead, 45-43. Ajinca hustled for a two-chance power slam that forced Coach Chris Fleming to call timeout at 47-43. Lacombe finished a broken play with a layup, as Bamberg continued to struggle against the hosts' 2-3 zone defense. Meanwhile, Greer struck from downtown and Ajinca provided a highlight with an alley-oop slam for a 54-43 Strasbourg lead. Bamberg was scoreless for more than five minutes and another triple by Greer broke the game open, 57-43, after a 16-0 run. Neumann made free throws, which Leloup bettered with a three-pointer. Smith and Ford tried to change things for Bamberg and a triple by John Goldsberry gave the guests hope, 62-52, after 30 minutes.
Fourth quarter: Strasbourg celebrates, Bamberg saves tie-breaker
Ford dunked early in the fourth quarter, but Duport answered with a five-meter jumper for a 64-54 Strasbourg lead with over eight minutes left. Strasbourg tried to run the game clock down with Diot and Campbell together on court. Campbell finished a long possession with a triple and Abromaitis also struck from downtown to make it 70-54. Greer beat the shot clock with a fallaway jumper, which Wright bettered with a three-point play. Campbell split free throws. Sanders knocked down a six-meter jumper, but Ajinca scored down low for a 75-59 Strasbourg lead with four minutes to go. The outcome was clear but both teams fought for point-differential now. Abromaitis and Wright traded baskets and free throws by Zirbes kept Bamberg within 77-63. Zirbes got some help from Gavel to get the guests a bit closer, 80-67. Novica Velickovic and Smith allowed Bamberg to get the tie-break advantage if both teams are tied at the end of the regular season.

Friday, November 22, 2013
Euroleague.net