Savanovic carries Bayern Munich to victory in home finale

Dusko Savanovic scored 14 of his career-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as FC Bayern Munich rallied from a double-digit deficit to down PGE Turow Zgorzelec 95-89. The outcome dropped Turow to 1-8 record in Group C and ended its Top 16 hopes, while qualifying EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to the next stage. Previously-eliminated Bayern improved to 2-7 with a win in its last Euroleague home game of the season. Turow took control in the first quarter, and used a hot hand from Nemanja Jaramaz to open 20-30 lead. Several spectacular dunks by Chris Wright helped Turow stay in front, and the visitors used a 2-12 run that bridged third and fourth quarters to regain a double-digit lead, 63-74. But Savanovic caught fire, scoring at will and rallying the hosts to victory. Savanovic was 7 of 10 for two points and 4 of 5 from long range, and also had 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Heiko Schaffartzik was 3 of 4 from three-point land for 15 points, and Vladimir Stimac collected 12 points and 6 rebounds in victory. Jaramaz netted 16 for Turow, Damian Kulig scored 14, while Filip Dylewicz had 9 points and 6 rebounds in defeat.

First quarter: Visitors start strong as Wright provides the highlights

Michal Chylinski opened the scoring with a triple and Ivan Zigeranovic nailed an off balance shot from downtown to make it 0-6. John Bryant opened the account for Bayern with a basket inside, but that was the only bucket for the hosts in the opening four minutes. Wright made a monster put-back dunk for the visitors, before Bo McCalebb scored a second-chance layup for Bayern, 4-10. Paul Zipser got a lucky roll on a three-pointer to close the deficit some more, before Tony Taylor found Wright for an alley-oop dunk. After a put-back from Stimac, a corner three from Kulig made it 10-15. Stimac scored another basket inside, but Mardy Collins knocked down a long jumper and Dylewicz a three-pointer for a 12-20 advantage. Savanovic and Kulig traded baskets before Savanovic drove for a layup to cut it to 16-22 after 10 minutes.

Second quarter: Jaramaz keeps PGE Turow in front

Schaffartzik nailed a three, but a steal and a tip-in from Lukasz Wisniewski started a run during which Jaramaz hit a triple and a jumper, helping Turow to its first double-digit lead of the night, 20-30. Bryce Taylor buried a three for the hosts and Jaramaz answered with a jumper. Stimac hit from close range for Bayern, but Vlad Moldoveanu countered with a three-pointer to make it 25-35. Wisniewski and Savanovic traded baskets, before a three-pointer from Schaffartzik helped cut the deficit to 33-37. But the visitors held Bayern to a single free throw in the next two minutes, while Tony Taylor and Uros Nikolic made 5 of 6 from the four line, extending it to 33-42. Bryant scored a baseline jumper, before Jaramaz and Schaffartzik traded threes as Turow went into halftime up 38-46.

Third quarter: After Bayern trims the deficit, Turow pulls away again

Savanovic hit a triple to open the second half and made a pair of free throws to get within 43-46, but Chylinski answered from downtown and Wright had another alley-oop dunk. A basket-plus-foul from Tony Taylor and an easy layup from Zigeranovic made it 43-56. Bryant snapped a 0-10 run as Savanovic made a shot and then fed Anton Gavel for a fastbreak layup to get within 50-56. After Moldoveanu scored in the low post, Gavel sank a three. Kulig made a shot inside, but Savanovic buried another Bayern triple. Stimac made 3 of 4 from the free throw line to cut the deficit to a single point, but Jaramaz nailed a corner three for Turow to extend the difference to 61-65. A triple from Moldoveanu and a reverse layup from Nikolic gave the visitors even more breathing room, and Jaramaz made a couple of foul shots in the last second of the quarter for a 63-72 advantage.

Fourth quarter: Savanovic takes charge when it matters most

A basket from Nikolic made it an 11-point affair, before Stimac split free throws to snap a 2-12 run. After Wright made a monster baseline dunk, McCalebb hit a three-pointer on the other end. A Gavel layup and a Zipser put-back dunk cut the deficit to 71-76. Collins knocked down a jumper, but Savanovic strung together 6 points, including a baseline jumper to make it 77-78. Dylewicz hit a jumper to keep Turow in front, and after Savanovic drove for a layup, Tony Taylor made a long range shot for a 79-83 edge. After a timeout, Savanovic nailed a three and Bryant sank a couple of free throws to put Bayern in front for the first time since the first quarter, 84-83 with 1:50 to go. Jaramaz drove to the hoop for Turow to regain the lead, but so did Gavel. Free throws from Schaffartzik made it 88-85 with 60 seconds left. Tony Taylor fed Kulig for a layup, but Savanovic nailed a tough three for a 91-87 cushion. Jaramaz made a layup to keep Turow’s hopes alive, but Schaffartzik sealed the deal from the foul line.