Gran Canaria exited Moraca in Podgorica victorious after stunning host Buducnost VOLI 69-94 on Tuesday evening. The visitors gave no chance to the hosts, who trailed by more than 20 points before halftime and waived the white flag long before the final whistle. With the win, Gran Canaria clinched first place in Group B and it could secure home-court advantage throughout the playoffs if Prometey Slobozhanske loses on Wednesday.
For Gran Canaria it was not only what it did, but how it did so. Buducnost came into the game on a three-game winning streak at home and possessing the best defense in the competition, allowing less than 80 points on average to its opponents. Before this night, only two teams had been able to score more than that in Podgorica. But Gran Canaria showed its power by punishing its opponent with 94 points, trailing just for a few seconds in the first period (4-3), and cruising with 20-plus-point advantages for more than 25 minutes in the game. It was not only a win, but a statement.
To achieve that, it displayed an amazing defensive and, especially, offensive performance, going for 70.4% in two-point shooting, and drilling 17 three-pointers, its season-best as a team this season and matching the club’s second-best all-time in the competition. Gran Canaria also recorded 25 assists and outrebounded Buducnost 25-34.