Diebler shines in Karsiyaka's home win

Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir went up to 2-0 in Last 32 Group M by downing Neptunas Klaipeda 99-85 at home on Wednesday. Karsiyaka is the only undefeated team left in Group M while Neptunas dropped to 1-1. Jon Diebler paced the winners with 26 points on 7-of-8 three-point shots. Juan Palacios added 20, Bobby Dixon had 16, 8 assists and 4 steals while Kenny Gabriel posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds for Karsiyaka. Deividas Gailius led Neptunas with 16 points. Justas Sinica and Donatas Zavackas each added 12 while Martynas Mazeika had 11 for the guests. Palacios and Diebler allowed Karsiyaka to get an early 28-11 lead, enough for the hosts to keep a 30-16 margin after 10 minutes. A rain of three-pointers brought Neptunas within 33-28 but an outstanding Diebler boosted the hosts' nargin to 53-41 at halftime. Nothing changed after the break, as Karsiyaka improved its margin to 73-60 at the end of the third quarter and then again to 86-66 with 6 minutes left, enough to seal the outcome.

Consecutive baskets by Martynas Mazeika gave Neptunas an early 1-4 lead. Diebler stepped up with a jumper and his first three-pointer to put Karsiyaka back ahead, 7-6. The hosts kept excelling on defense, as consecutive baskets by Palacios and a three-pointer by Dixon boosted Karsiyaka's lead to 17-6, after a 14-0 run. Palacios kept scoring fluently and another triple by Diebler broke the game open, 28-11. Donatas Zavackas and Keith Benson brought the guests within 30-16 after 10 minutes. Justas Sinica, Mindaugas Girdziunas and Vytautas Sarakauskas struck from downtown early in the second quarter to bring Neptunas back to life, 33-28. Neptunas kept hitting three-point shots but Palacios, D.J. Strawberry and Baris Hersek made Karsiyaka keep a nine-point margin, 43-34. Valdas Vasilyus and Deividas Gailius tried to bring Neptunas closer but Diebler struck twice from downtown for a 53-41 Karsiyaka margin at halftime. Palacios scored again after the break but Simas Galdikas and Mazeika gave Neptunas hope at 57-47. Palacios and Mustafa Shakur exchanged free throws and a layup by Gabriel made it a 12-point game, 61-49. Palacios stayed on fire with consecutive baskets but three-pointers by Sinica and Girdziunas kept Neptunas within 65-55. Diebler answered from downtown, Palacios hit a jumper and a three-pointer by Soner Senturk boosted the hosts' lead to 73-57. Zavackas brought Neptunas within 73-60 after 30 minutes. Gabriel scored down low and Diebler added his 6 triple in as many attempts. Karsiyaka found another go-to guy in Dixon, who forced Neptunas to call timeout at 86-66. The outcome was clear but Neptunas kept fighting for points differential, as a layup by Gailius got the guests within 92-78. The guests did not get much closer and Diebler rounded his great game with another three-point shot at the buzzer.