HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim wizarded up a magical 33-7 second half run to race away from s.Oliver Würzburg and give new head coach Sebastian Gleim a 111-84 victory at home in his first game with the club.
Game summary and turning point: The first points of the season for Crailsheim went to Jaren Lewis with a three-pointer while Ainars Skele is the trivia answer for Würzburg’s first scorer of 2021-22 with two free throws. Würzburg grabbed six offensive rebounds in the first quarter but Bogdan Radosavljeivic drained two of Crailsheim’s five triples and the hosts led 27-24 after 10 minutes. The game was back and forth and remained tight in the second quarter and Würzburg were leading 47-50 at the break. The game was knotted at 59-59 midway through the third period when Nicolas Carvacho was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on a Maurice Stuckey three-pointer. Stuckey went 3-for-3 from the line and then drained a triple on the ensuing possession. Jared Savage followed Stuckey’s lead and unleashed three straight three-pointers and TJ Shorts continued the magic with a triple at the third quarter buzzer and the score was 83-64. Crailsheim finished off Würzburg with a 9-2 surge to start the fourth quarter and a 92-66 lead and end all hopes of a comeback. It was the fourth straight season Würzburg dropped their opening game.
Numbers please: It was raining threes in the Arena Hohenlohe as Crailsheim knocked down 16-of-32 three-pointers for a blistering 50.0 percent. Würzburg hit just 5-of-18 for 27.8 percent. Both teams were, however, superb from the foul line, 83.3 percent for the hosts and 85.2 percent for Würzburg. Crailsheim also were waving their magic wands with 25 assists.
Player of the Game: Six Crailsheim players scored in double figures - topped by Terrell Harris off the bench with 20 points - but TJ Shorts was pulling the strings for the winners as he poured in 15 points and also delivered 11 assists.
The Germans: Bogdan Radosavljevic broke his career record with six three-pointers - on eight attempts - as he poured in 18 points while Fabian Bleck collected 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals and Maurice Stuckey had eight points for the winners. Filip Stanic picked up 4 points and 4 rebounds in his first game for Würzburg.
Also newsworthy: This was a showdown of the only two German head coaches in the league and Crailsheim's playcaller Gleim prevailed in his first game in his new home over Denis Wucherer of Würzburg.
Beyond the sidelines: There may have only been about 2,000 fans in the arena, but it probably sounded and felt like 20,000 for the players as it was Crailsheim's first home game with spectators back in the stands since the outbreak of the pandemic.
What's up next: Crailsheim head north for their first road game as they face EWE Baskets Oldenburg on Tuesday, September 28 in Round 2. Würzburg will have to wait until Sunday, October 3 for their next game, the opening round of the MagentaSport BBL German Cup at home against SYNTAINICS MBC.
Video: Highlights for this game available in the upper right under the tab "Video" or here at MAGENTA SPORT.
Anmerkung: In der Saison 2021/22 werden wie hier auch gelegentlich Nachberichte in englischer Sprache verfasst.
Note: During the 2021-22 season, there will occasionally be game reports published in English.
