Chris Kramer's buzzer-beater knocks Unicaja Malaga down / News - Basketnews.com
Gran Canaria (2-1) got a nail-biting victory over Unicaja Malaga (1-2) 80-79 (20-15, 18-19, 19-28, 23-17) to redeem themselves after a loss against FC Barcelona.
Gran Canaria had a great start of the game, having Shurna and Diop as inside partners. The yellows arranged a 9-2 run and were in front by 8 after 5 minutes of playing time (14-6).
However, Unicaja did not lose hope and answered with their own buckets. Nzosa lit up the match hosts but they still trailed after the first quarter (20-15).
At the start of the second period, Salvo and Pustovyi allowed Gran Canaria to gain the biggest advantage of the match, 9 points (24-15). Though, the Andalusian team was cutting the distance little by little, with individual sparks from men like Bouteille or Fernandez. Teams went to the locker room when the scoreboard was showing 38-34 to Gran Canaria.
The third quarter belonged to the greens. Cole scored a bucket in the 24th minute of the game and tied the squads' positions (45-45). Bouteille led his team in the offensive end and put Unicaja ahead after third (62-57).
The decisive 10 minutes started with a better stretch from the yellows. Salvo scored a two-pointer and a huge dunk by Nico Brussino reduced Gran Canaria's deficit to just one point.
The locals managed to regain the more solid advantage. Nevertheless, Gran Canaria struck back with Ennis' steal. The last moments of the game were heart-stopping. Gran Canaria never gave up anything and continued to come back play by play. With ten seconds remaining, the ball was at the yellows' disposal after a defensive rebound. Chris Kramer hit a last-second dagger which sealed the W. These two points were his first and only points in the contest.
Gran Canaria's head coach Porfi Fisac was very happy about his team performance: "I think we have started at a very good pace. We were able to control rebound situations and counterattacks of the opposing team.
As is logical, they have had a push and a strong success. They have intensified their defensive. But I congratulate my players because they believed at all times. We were able to continue working on what we want to do, regardless of the scoreboard," said Fisac.
Gran Canaria: AJ Slaughter 16 (4 AST), Miquel Salvo 14 (4 REB), Khalifa Diop 11, Artem Pustovyi 10, John Shurna 10 (4 REB), Nico Brussino 8 (4 REB, 6 AST).
Unicaja: Jaime Fernandez 18 (5 AST), Axel Bouteille 16 (4 REB, 3 AST), Norris Cole 14 (5 AST), Tim Abromaitis 11 (5 REB), Micheal Eric 10 (4 REB).
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