Alba Berlin has lost the prestige duel in the basketball Bundesliga against FC Bayern Munich and thus also handed over the lead in the table to Telekom Baskets Bonn.
The team coached by Israel Gonzalez lost 71:76 (43:43) at home to their long-time rival after a tough fight on Saturday (04.03.23). Previously, Alba had won twelve games in a row in the domestic league. The best Berlin throwers were Jaleen Smith with 14 and Johannes Thiemann and Maodo Lo with twelve points each.
Intensive initial phase
A highly intense game developed from the start, in which the defensive rows initially dominated. Alba in particular was very concentrated under the basket and hardly allowed Bayern to make any offensive rebounds. And since the guests hardly scored at first, the defending champion, who had to do without the injured Yovel Zoosman and Tamir Blatt, quickly pulled away to 16:7.
But towards the end of the first quarter, Bayern hit more of their long-range shots and came back so quickly. The game was now completely even, but Alba allowed too many turnovers. In the middle of the second period, the Berliners were suddenly 23:27 behind. But they remained unimpressed and responded with an 11-0 run.
But before the change of sides, Bayern equalized again and the hosts found it increasingly difficult to get into promising throwing positions. Bayern took the lead again. But Alba fought back and the lead switched back and forth in the final quarter. The decision came 14.7 seconds before the end when Isaac Bonga converted two free throws to make it 76:71.
Friday: Hamburg loses at home before Nowitzki’s eyes
In front of the eyes of German NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki, the Veolia Towers Hamburg suffered a setback on Friday evening. In the first game after the international break, the north club lost to the former series champion Brose Bamberg 83:88 (48:45) and failed to move further away from the relegation zone.
The best thrower from Hamburg, who recently surprisingly won at Bayern Munich, was Jordan Davis with 20 points. At Bamberg, Patrick Miller impressed with 19 points and eight assists. With eleven wins and eleven defeats each, the Franconians have a balanced record again. Hamburg (8:14) is in a much worse position.
Nowitzki followed the duel on the sidelines, the Würzburg player once played with Towers managing director Marvin Willoughby in the German national team.