Buducnost sinks 21 triples in premier victory
Buducnost Voli Podgorica got its first EuroLeague win in almost 16 years and did so by making history. Buducnost broke the EuroLeague record by hitting 21 three-point shots in blowing past visiting KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 99-84 on Thursday night in the Montenegrin capital. While Buducnost improved to 1-6, Baskonia suffered its fifth loss in six games and dropped to 2-5. Edwin Jackson paced the winners and tied a career-high with 24 points on 6-for-9 three-point shooting. Tornike Shengelia scored 16 for Baskonia.
Buducnost came out firing with Earl Clark and Suad Sehovic each hitting back-to-back threes to open a 12-5 lead. Huertas had a three and a floater for the visitors to help tie the game at 14-14, but Jackson had a three-point play before Clark strung together 7 points, including his third triple to give the hosts a 26-18 advantage after 10 minutes. Luca Vildoza hit from long range for the visitors, but Coty Clarke had a pair of baskets and Danilo Nikolic hit a three-pointer to make it 33-21. The teams traded blows and Ilimane Diop's shot from behind the arc cut the deficit to 41-35. Nikola Ivanovic answered with a three and a three-point play as Buducnost grabbed a 49-38 halftime lead. Huertas hit a triple, before Matt Janning, Poirier and Shengelia all scored inside to get Baskonia within 6. Jackson nailed a three-pointer at the other end and Nikolic had a tough runner and a triple to make it 62-51. Clarke hit from downtown to continue the Buducnost charge and with contributions from Jackson, Ivanovic and Suad Sehovic, the hosts took a 75-60 lead into the fourth quarter. Jackson's barrage of three triples on as many attempts to start the final quarter opened an 84-65 lead. Huertas and Darrun Hilliard put together a quick 0-7 run, but Danilo Nikolic and Jackson followed each other with threes to not only to seal the first win of the season for Buducnost, but to break the EuroLeague record for three-point shots made, too.
Record night
Buducnost hit 21 triples, surpassing the previous mark of 19 shared by Montepaschi Siena and FC Barcelona Lassa. Edwin Jackson made 6 of 9 three-point shots, but was just one of six Buducnost players who made at least 2 shots from downtown: Danilo Nikolic was 4 of 5, Earl Clark made 4 of 6, Suad Sehovic hit 3 of 5, Nikola Ivanovic knocked down 2 of 7 and Coty Clarke went 2 of 2 from long range.
Game-changing sequence
Buducnost held an 11-point halftime lead. Baskonia seemed to have a momentum and closed within 50-44 early in the third quarter, but the hosts went on to make 4 of 5 triples the rest of the quarter and pull away to a 16-point margin. Baskonia never threatened again.
Movers and shakers
Earl Clark finished with 20 points, Danilo Nikolic netted 18. Nikola Nikola Ivanovic collected 11 points and 7 assists, and Coty Clark had 10 points without a miss. Baskonia had five double-digit scorers of its own. Apart from Shengelia, Shavon Shields and Darrun Hilliard scored 14 apiece, Marcelinho Huertas had 13 points and 8 assists, while Vincent Poirier added 10 in the losing effort.
Did you notice?
Buducnost came into the game averaging 64 points per game, with 71 points from the season opener serving as its season-high. After this game Buducnost increased its average to 79.3 ppg.
Next game
Buducnost will try to make it two in a row in Round 8 on Wednesday when it travels for its first-ever meeting against Khimki Moscow Region. Baskonia will stay on the road and visit AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan the same night.

Thursday, November 15, 2018
Euroleague.net