In the race for the championship in the Basketball Bundesliga, the Baskets Bonn celebrated an important victory. The Rhinelanders prevailed against Ludwigsburg in the first semi-final game on Monday evening.
Bonn won the home game 80:71 (42:31). Tuomas Iisalo’s team now leads 1-0 in the best-of-five series. Player of the night was TJ Shorts, who had 22 points and seven assists for the Baskets. Malcolm and Hawkins each had 13 points. At Ludwigsburg Bartolo was the most successful player (12 points).
For Bonn it is the 27th win in a row across all competitions. The Rhinelanders have been unbeaten in the league for 20 home games.
Fast-paced start in front of 6,000 fans
The slightly favored Champions League winners from Bonn started the game with a lot of speed. Inspired by the atmosphere in the sold-out hall with 6,000 spectators, the Bonn team initially built up a lead of four points in the first few minutes. The baskets showed their qualities especially in the offensive rebounds.
But the guests from Ludwigsburg also showed a high pace, equalized and then even passed the hosts on points. In this phase, Bonn missed too many throws from the two-man distance, only four of the 13 shots ended up in the basket. And so the first quarter ended with a seven-point lead for the giants Ludwigsburg.
Bonn regains leadership
The second quarter was also a high-intensity game. However, the Baskets Bonn increasingly stabilized and gradually worked their way back on points. In the 14th minute of the game, TJ Shorts made it 26:27 with a three, then Scratches and Williams made it 31:27 for Bonn.
Guest coach King took a break, but the team from Bonn continued to dominate this quarter, put on a 26:8 run and led by eleven points at half-time. The most successful players in the Baskets in the first 20 minutes were Shorts, Hawkins and Williams with seven points each. Kuhse contributed eight points for the guests from Ludwigsburg.
Second half: Ludwigsburg comes back
The beginning of the second half was marked by uncertainties on both sides, there were various misthrows and sometimes also step errors. The giants Ludwigsburg acted a bit more stable in this phase and therefore reduced the gap to just three points.
Bonn only went into the last quarter with a 56:53 lead. But in the closing stages, TJ Shorts showed his class and confidently led the favored team from Bonn to victory.
Next game on Wednesday
The next duel in the race for the final is on Wednesday: Then the Baskets Bonn will again welcome Ludwigsburg (May 31, 8:30 p.m.). In the second semi-final series, ratiopharm Ulm surprisingly won 87:69 at Bayern Munich at the start on Sunday.