Simmons rescues Baskonia in Lleida with decisive three-pointer

Baskonia visited the iLERNA Lleida court on Saturday, November 7, and achieved a valuable victory (93-98) that consolidates their good form in the Liga Endesa. The Vitoria team dominated most of the match but had to endure pressure from the Catalan team in the final moments of a game that was decided by minor details.

Initial dominance of the Vitoria team

Baskonia displayed solid basketball during the first three quarters, winning them consecutively with scores of 20-27, 19-27, and 23-24. By halftime, the visitors were ahead with a comfortable lead of 39-54, a result that foreshadowed an uncomplicated triumph. The maximum difference on the scoreboard came in the 24th minute with a score of 43-65, at which point Baskonia seemed to have complete control of the match.

Perasovic used nine different players throughout the game, demonstrating the depth of the Vitoria squad. The distribution of minutes allowed for a high and fresh competitive level in defense, a key aspect in a match where the opponent would look to respond in the final moments.

The comeback of iLERNA Lleida

However, Lleida did not give up and staged a spectacular comeback in the final quarter. The team led by Gerard Encuentra won this period 31-20, which allowed them to dangerously close the score. In the 35th minute, the hosts were just four points behind (82-86), creating considerable tension in the match. The excitement peaked when Lleida managed to tie the score at 91 with just over a minute left.

James Batemon was Lleida's top scorer with 29 points, demonstrating great offensive efficiency throughout the contest. Zacharie Perrin contributed 16 points, while Shurna and Ejim added 11 and 10 respectively. Despite these quality individual performances, Baskonia's defense in crucial moments proved decisive.

Simmons' three-pointer decides the match

With the score tied and time running out, Kobi Simmons made a three-pointer in the last minute that returned the lead to Baskonia. Subsequently, DJ Stewart sealed the match with two free throws that established the final score of 93-98. This movie-like ending emphasizes the importance of staying calm in high-pressure moments and the ability of the best players to deliver in adversity.

Simmons leads the Vitoria attack

Kobi Simmons was the most decisive player for Baskonia, not only for his final three-pointer but also for his overall performance. The Vitoria guard finished the match with 25 points, 7 assists, and a valuation of 27, figures that position him as the team's top scorer and most valued player according to ACB data. His ability to create plays and score at key moments was fundamental for the victory.

Stefan Joksimovic complemented the attack with 15 points, while Duarte and AJ Lawson contributed 12 each. DJ Stewart and Frisch rounded off the offensive contribution with 11 points respectively. This scoring distribution shows that Baskonia has multiple offensive options, which is particularly valuable in competitions where consistency is crucial.

Context of both teams in the competition

The victory in Lleida marks Baskonia's second consecutive win in the Liga Endesa, consolidating a positive trend following the initial difficulties of the season. Six days ago, the Vitoria team defeated Manresa 106-83, which marked Perasovic's first victory after taking over the bench. That win came after seven consecutive losses that impacted both the domestic competition and the Euroleague.

With this victory, Baskonia holds a record of 5-2 in the Liga Endesa, where their only defeats came in rounds 4 and 5, against La Laguna Tenerife (82-77) and Valencia Basket (84-75). However, the situation in the Euroleague is significantly different. The Vitoria team occupies the last place in the European standings with one win and nine losses after ten rounds, following the defeat on Thursday, November 5, at Fenerbahçe by 84-65.

Lleida, on the other hand, is experiencing a much more complicated situation. The Catalan team has suffered its sixth consecutive defeat in the Liga Endesa and holds a 1-6 record. Their only win so far this season came in the first round, when they defeated Valencia Basket 100-105 on the orange team's court. The match at Barris Nord was attended by 5,644 spectators who witnessed an exciting game until the end.

Zacharie Perrin was one of the standout names of the match, both for his performance on the court and for the movements concerning his future. According to ACB reports, Baskonia has made several offers this season to acquire the player's services. The match ended with Perrin suffering from calf discomfort, a situation to monitor in the coming days.

Upcoming commitments and outlook

Baskonia faces a demanding schedule in the coming days. Next Wednesday, November 11, they will visit Partizan under Joan Peñarroya in round 11 of the Euroleague at 8:45 PM. Subsequently, on Sunday, November 15, they will host Real Madrid at Buesa Arena in the eighth round of the Liga Endesa at 7:00 PM. These commitments represent a crucial test to evaluate the progress of the Vitoria team.

Lleida, for its part, will host Kids&Us Manresa in the eighth round of the Liga Endesa on Sunday, November 15, at 12:00 PM. Gerard Encuentra's team urgently needs to break its negative streak to avoid falling too far behind in the league standings. The comeback ability shown against Baskonia demonstrates that there is room for improvement, but consistency will be essential in the upcoming matches.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Simmons rescata al Baskonia en Lleida con triple decisivo