FC Bayern’s basketball team didn’t give Basketball Lions Braunschweig a look-in in the top game, winning their fourth league game in a row. Coach Herbert used a shortened rotation ahead of what could be a season-deciding Euroleague game.
After losing to Maccabi Tel Aviv, Bayern were looking for an answer in the BBL top game against Braunschweig. After all, just three days earlier, they had given away what was thought to be an already certain and extremely important victory in the playoff race against the Israelis and now have to fear for their chance to reach the postseason. Next week Thursday, the deciding game for the FCBB will be at second-placed Fenerbahce Istanbul.
This was probably one of the reasons why Bayern coach Gordon Herbert did not use the services of his top scorer Carsen Edwards. Instead, newcomer Jack White made his first appearance for the Reds. However, the changed rotation initially had problems facing the brave Braunschweig team. After all, the club from Lower Saxony is still in the running for a direct playoff spot in the BBL.
Bayern releases the handbrake in the second period
Both teams defended fiercely in the opening minutes and hardly conceded any easy points. With 15 seconds left before the break, Niels Giffey drained a bucket from downtown to put his side 18:16 in front, but it remained tight. With the final buzzer, Arnas Velickas also drained a three to put his Braunschweig side back in front.
Bavaria’s second team then did better. First, Shabazz Napier scored six points in a row, then Munich’s new signing Jack White finally got his first points with a slam-dunk (30:22). It was almost six minutes before the Lions made another shot from the floor, but by then the reigning champions had already pulled away by double digits. The visitors had little answer to Bayern’s Devin Booker in particular (13 points, 6 rebounds at half-time).
Bayer extends lead for a relaxed final period
After the break, Bayern had a clear game plan: Despite already leading by double digits in the third period, they wanted to step up a gear to let their guard down in the final quarter. That was more or less how the inspired Herbert described it in a timeout – and that is how it turned out. Playmaker Shabazz Napier (16 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) pulled the strings for Munich for minutes on end, while Andi Obst (12) also found his rhythm again. In the final ten minutes of play, the home side then primarily managed the result.
Bayern celebrated their 19th win of the season and their fourth straight league victory, cementing their top position in the BBL. The Lions of Braunschweig, meanwhile, are just one win away from the play-in places.
Munich will be in action again in two days’ time when they travel to face second-placed ratiopharm Ulm. The Lions of Braunschweig play at home against bottom-of-the-league BG Göttingen on Saturday.
