Victorious Spahija's comeback: Steven Enoch posts a strong double-double, Baskonia cruise past Crvena Zvezda / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Aitor Arrizabalaga/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Bitci Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (4-6) eased past Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade (4-6) 93-74 (25-22, 30-10, 13-21, 25-21) to terminate a four-game losing streak in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Steven Enoch Points 23 Accuracy 10-12 Rebounds 11 Assists 1

Baskonia broke the game to their side at the start of the second period, arranging a massive 19-2 run and gaining a solid 20-point advantage (44-24). Rokas Giedraitis and Steven Enoch were raining buckets. The Basques increased their lead even more before the break (55-32).

After Giedraitis’ two, Baskonia gained a record 25-point advantage at the beginning of the third quarter (59-34), but the Serbs retaliated. Dejan Radonjic’s squad organized a 19-9 push, and after Nikola Ivanovic’s three-pointer, their deficit was 15 points (53-68).

But that was all the guests were able to do. Steven Enoch hit a two-pointer, Jayson Granger scored a shot from deep, and Baskonia regained a 19-point lead (84-65) with 5 minutes to go in the match. Crvena Zvezda could not bring the intrigue back.

“I would like to congratulate our team for the great reaction and the win,” Spahija said after the game. “I think they got the right message in the locker room, and they played with their heart and their talent.”

“The first half was exceptional, outstanding. And I understood that it would be really difficult to play with the same pace and rhythm in the second half. But in the end, we won,” added newly appointed Baskonia’s coach.

Steven Enoch was terrific for the winners, registering a double-double performance with 23 points (10/12 2PT, 3/3 FT), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 drawn fouls, and 32 PIR.

Rokas Giedraitis aided him with 21 points (2/3 2PT, 5/8 3PT, 2/2 FT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 drawn foul, and 23 PIR.

“Congrats to Baskonia for the win. They played a really good game,” Dejan Radonjic admitted. “From the beginning, it was clear that we were playing without any energy. We were very soft defensively. We had problems with our focus. They took advantage of it and the game was over after 20 minutes.”

Nikola Ivanovic led the route for Zvezda, posting 21 points (5/6 2PT, 3/7 3PT, 2/3 FT), 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 4 drawn fouls, and 27 PIR.

Baskonia: Steven Enoch 23 (11 REB), Rokas Giedraitis 21, Wade Baldwin 14 (4 AST), Simone Fontecchio 9 (6 REB, 7 AST), Tadas Sedekerskis 9 (5 REB).

Crvena Zvezda: Nikola Ivanovic 21 (5 REB, 7 AST), Maik Zirbes 12, Ognjen Dobric 11, Austin Hollins 11, Ognjen Kuzmic 10 (8 REB).

Highlights

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