HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim started 2023 the best possible way as they snapped a four-game losing streak by defeating Basketball Löwen Braunschweig 101-91 on the road for the first win under new head coach Nikola Markovic. Crailsheim pulled away with a 20-3 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to move to 4-10 - now 1-3 with Markovic at the helm. Maurice Stuckey tied a career high with 26 points to lead the way in the win. Short-handed Braunschweig dropped their seventh straight game for a 2-11 record in last place despite a great Braydon Hobbs showing.
Game Summary: Crailsheim took advantage of four early Braunschweig turnovers for a 13-5 lead. The guests were ahead 18-10 only to watch Braunschweig fight back within 18-15 before leading 23-17 after 10 minutes. Braunschweig pulled within three points but Edon Maxhuni scored eight points in helping Crailsheim take a 38-29 cushion. Braydon Hobbs answered with nine points and the hosts trimmed it to 44-42. Maxhuni drained another triple for 18 points in the first half and a 49-44 Crailsheim lead.
Braunschweig used the long ball and Hobbs’ playmaking to twice pull within one point. Crailsheim opened some space with a 9-1 spurt to lead 70-61. And the cushion was 77-67 after 30 minutes for the guests. Crailsheim opened the final frame with a 15-3 run to build a 22-point advantage 92-70. Braunschweig tried to make it interesting but could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Numbers Please: Braunschweig committed 19 turnovers with Crailsheim picking up 10 fast break points to zero for the hosts. Crailsheim also outscored Braunschweig 44-30 in the paint while allowing Crailsheim to nail 14-of-27 three-pointers for 51.9 percent.
Player of the Game: Stuckey drained 6 three-pointers in scoring 26 points - tying his career best (also against Basketball Löwen Braunschweig on February 12, 2020). He also contributed 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.
The Germans: Besides Stuckey, Bogdan Radosavljevic chipped in 5 points and 5 rebounds in the win. Robin Amaize scored 21 points for Braunschweig, who also got 12 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals from Brandon Tischler.
Also Newsworthy Part 1: Braydon Hobbs tried all he could for Braunschweig as the 33-year-old scored a career-high 29 points with 8 three-pointers. He also picked up 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals.
Also Newsworthy Part 2: Braunschweig were extremely short-handed as David Krämer, Benedikt Turudic and Luc van Slooten were all out injured while Ondrej Sehnal was released from the team and new addition Divine Myles was not yet available. And then 19-year-old Gian Aydinoglu suffered an injury in the first half and could not play after the break.
What's up next: Braunschweig next head on the road and will face SYNTAINICS MBC on Saturday January 7. Crailsheim's double round week continues on Saturday January 7 with a home game against MLP Academics Heidelberg.
Video: Highlights for this game available in the upper right under the tab "Video" or here at MAGENTA SPORT.
Anmerkung: In der Saison 2022/23 werden wie hier auch gelegentlich Nachberichte in englischer Sprache verfasst.
Note: During the 2022-23 season, there will occasionally be game reports published in English.
