The Latvian sharpshooter shined bright with a career-high 33 points
Neptunas prevailed in Hamburg behind red-hot Rihards Lomazs
Maç Raporu
3 Dk okuma
Regular Season
Round 13 of 18
Regular Season
group a
Veolia Towers HamburgHAM
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Neptunas KlaipedaNEP
group a
Overview
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Neptunas Klaipeda secured a 94-98 win over Veolia Towers Hamburg on Wednesday night, improving to 6-7 in Group A and taking a vital step in the race for a top-six finish.
Coming off two straight losses, the Lithuanian side knew a win was essential to keep its playoff hopes alive and stayed composed in a back-and-forth game before delivering late in the final quarter.
Rihards Lomazs was the driving force for the Lithuanian side, posting a career-high 33 points and 6 assists for a game-best 36 PIR. Held to just 8 points at halftime, he caught fire after the break and carried the offense when it mattered most.
‘‘For sure, those stops we got in the end, it was crucial. And we kind of stuck together the whole game,’’ said the Latvian guard. ‘‘I try to do whatever the defense gives and sometimes it was a pull-up, sometimes it was a drive, sometimes a three-pointer, so basketball is a game of reads and yeah, probably I did the right reads today… If you want to compete in the playoffs, you have to win on the road.’’
Neptunas stayed level in a fast-paced game, with both teams trading baskets in a balanced first half. The visitors' ability to limit their turnovers proved decisive, and a crucial turnover from Hamburg with 18 seconds remaining allowed Neptunas to pull ahead and close out the win.
Bench production proved to be another key factor for Neptunas. Zane Waterman gave the visitors a lift in the second quarter and finished with 15 points, while Harrison Cleary delivered in the final period, knocking down key three-pointers on his way to 16 points. Arnas Velicka also provided multiple scoring options, adding another layer to Neptunas’ offense.
‘‘Overall, I don’t think that today was a bad energy and bad mindset,’’ said coach Gediminas Petrauskas after the game. ‘‘Our problem was shooting. We created shots, we missed, even the layups. I felt that our team is a little bit nervous, we feel the pressure, we must win, we need to win, and it felt a little bit on our shoulders.’’
Hamburg, chasing its first win of the season, came close behind a red-hot Ross Williams, who carried the offense and kept his team in the game. The American guard posted a career-high 32 points and 5 rebounds for a PIR of 34. He made 5 three-pointers and was 8-of-8 in the paint.
Zacharie Perrin also contributed heavily, especially in the second half, finishing with 16 points and making his presence felt in the paint.
Next up, Neptunas will look to carry the momentum back home as it faces Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, while Hamburg will continue its search for a first win of the season on the road at U-BT Cluj-Napoca.
