Sporting Clube de Portugal’s three-game winning streak in the FIBA Europe Cup was snapped Tuesday, as the Portuguese side fell 89-72 to Italy’s Dinamo Sassari despite a late-game surge and a standout individual performance.
The Group G defeat occurred on Sassari’s home court, with the Italian team largely controlling the pace after the initial minutes of the contest.
Sporting’s Brandon Johns was a bright spot, earning Most Valuable Player honors for his performance. He recorded 24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Despite Johns’ efforts, Sporting struggled to contain Sassari’s high shooting efficiency, which exceeded 60% for various shot types in the first half. The Portuguese squad also faced challenges in rebounding.
Dinamo Sassari quickly established a lead after Sporting’s early 10-9 advantage. They finished the first quarter ahead 24-20 and extended their lead to 55-41 by halftime.
Sporting mounted a strong comeback early in the second half, initiating a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to just five points at 57-52.
The Lisbon-based team continued to battle, improving their offensive output and rebounding. However, Sassari consistently maintained a lead of around ten points, entering the final period ahead 72-62.
Sporting again reduced the gap to seven points, making it 72-65, by defending more aggressively and forcing errors from the Italian side.
Ultimately, poor decision-making in the final minutes led to a collapse, allowing Dinamo Sassari to secure the victory.