Ratiopharm Ulm lost its highlight game in the NBA preseason at the Portland Trail Blazers 100:111. However, the 2023 German champions put up a brave fight against the NBA team for a long time.
It was the first time a German team has played away against an NBA franchise, and the BBL team acquitted itself well in Portland. Even a few minutes before the end, Ulm was still in striking distance (90:96 with 5:27 minutes remaining), although Portland led by as many as 20 points in the middle of the third quarter and kept its starters on the court in the final period.
The Ulm youngsters also made a good impression in front of the numerous NBA scouts (there were apparently over 50), with Ben Saraf notching up 16 points (6/14 FG, 3/5 three-pointers), two assists and two steals in 33 minutes, and Noa Essengue scoring 20 points (6/14) and eight rebounds.
For Ulm, it was their third defeat in a row after a perfect start to the season (6-0). They had previously lost in the cup in Bamberg and then suffered their first defeat in the EuroCup at Besiktas on Monday. The game in Portland, on the other hand, was a nice bonus and Ulm made the most of their appearance on the west coast.
ratiopharm Ulm hot from the three-point line
The visitors performed particularly well from outside, although they are used to a shorter three-point line in Europe. 20 out of 46 threes (43.5 percent) dropped through the net, keeping Ulm in the game because Portland hardly scored anything on the other side (5/24).
Scoot Henderson (23, 10/15), the No. 3 pick in 2023, was the Blazers’ top scorer, with Deni Avdija (18, 6/9) and Deandre Ayton (13), who only played in the first half, also doing well.
Ulm now travel back to Germany and face EWE Baskets Oldenburg on Saturday evening (tip-off: 6:30 p.m.; live coverage on Dyn). It was the penultimate game of the preseason for the Blazers, who face the Utah Jazz on Friday before Portland starts the regular season with a home game against the Golden State Warriors in a week’s time.