The German basketball champions completed their routine task in Würzburg thanks to a comfortable lead at half-time. The competition at the top of the table slips up.
FC Bayern Munich has extended its lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. The German champions completed their mammoth March program with an 81-75 win at Würzburg Baskets and celebrated their third consecutive league win. Meanwhile, their closest rivals Ulm made a mistake in Rostock, unexpectedly helping them along.
Munich had to play a total of eleven games in the BBL and the Euroleague this month. However, there was no sign of tiredness in Würzburg. The nimble Bavarians repeatedly closed down the home side’s paths and so generated numerous turnovers, which Munich was able to convert into easy points with fast attacks.
Würzburg’s comeback comes too late
The club from Franconia got into the game a little better after half-time and won the third period by 19:14. In the final minutes, the Baskets then went on another comeback, but the deficit was ultimately just too large – and Bayern held on despite increasing lapses in concentration. Würzburg’s Aubrey Dawkins was the top scorer with 19 points, while world champion Niels Giffey scored 17 points for Munich.
ratiopharm Ulm had previously suffered a surprisingly clear defeat in Rostock, helping the Bavarians to extend their lead at the top of the table. The second-placed team lost 67:85 at the Seawolves and now has two defeats more on its account. By contrast, Rostock celebrated an important victory with its twelfth win of the season in the close race for the play-in tournament.
Meanwhile, cup winners Syntainics MBC kept their chances of direct entry into the playoffs with a thriller win at EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Weißenfels won 97:95 in Lower Saxony thanks to the outstanding Michael Devoe (32 points).
In another exciting duel in the close midfield of the BBL, Hamburg Towers prevailed 96:93 at Telekom Baskets Bonn. The best player for the North Germans was Jonathan Stove with 20 points. For the home side, the Americans Phlandrous Fleming Jr. and Darius McGhee each scored 22 points.
