Unicaja stunned late collapse los thrilling overtime battle
Gran Canaria snatched a dramatic 100-101 victory over Unicaja Málaga in a nail-biting overtime thriller, leaving the Malaga side reeling from a costly defensive lapse.
Canary islanders secure critical win
The relentless pressure from the Gran Canaria Dreamland proved too much for the Unicaja, who failed to contain their rivals’ late-game intensity, forcing the extra period. A missed opportunity in the final seconds ultimately sealed the defeat for the hosts.
Early dominance quickly fades
Unicaja started strong, with Alberto Díaz and Tyson Pérez orchestrating an early 10-2 run. Perry and Webb III extended the lead, showcasing Unicaja’s initial offensive prowess – but Tobey swiftly countered, igniting a furious comeback from the visitors. Cobbs and Duarte managed to hold a slim advantage heading into the first quarter’s close, 25-19.
Second quarter intensifies the contest
Sulejmanovic and Duarte continued Unicaja’s attack, but the visiting team, led by Wong, tightened the gap with sharp perimeter shooting, creating a tense 36-34 scoreline. A shift to the interior briefly gave Unicaja breathing room, before Wong rallied the Dreamland, maintaining a tight 44-43 lead at halftime.
A rollercoaster of scores
The third quarter witnessed a furious exchange, with Webb III and Díaz driving for Unicaja, only for Brussino to keep Gran Canaria within striking distance. A brief Unicaja surge, fueled by a 57-50 lead, was quickly extinguished by Wong’s response. The game became a relentless back-and-forth, punctuated by accurate shooting from both sides – a triple from Pelos momentarily leveled the score before Perry countered, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Overtime drama decides the fate
With the game tied 87-87, Díaz and Sulejmanovic rallied Unicaja, but Wong continued to pressure the defense. Perry delivered decisive plays, seemingly putting Unicaja on the verge of victory at 87-81 with just 35 seconds remaining. However, consecutive triples from Metu and Wong leveled the score once more, sending the game into overtime. Balcerowski attempted to respond from the paint, but Gran Canaria capitalized on every opportunity from beyond the arc. Despite Unicaja’s late push, capped by a 2+1 play from Perry and subsequent points by Balcerowski, they trailed 100-99. Finally, a late foul on Carlos Alocén allowed him to sink two crucial free throws – 100-101 – effectively ending Unicaja’s hopes and securing a heartbreaking victory for Gran Canaria. The final play, an alley-oop attempt to Webb III, fell short, confirming the visitors’ hard-fought win.