The Unicaja’s unbeaten run in the Basketball Champions League (BCL) came to an abrupt end as they succumbed to a nail-biting 86-84 defeat at the hands of Galatasaray in Turkey. Despite a valiant effort, the Malaga-based team never managed to take the lead and were left to rue a series of missed opportunities that ultimately cost them the game. The loss marked their first defeat in 19 games in the competition, with Kam Taylor and Tyson Pérez being the standout performers for the Unicaja in an otherwise disappointing display.
From the outset, the Unicaja struggled to find their rhythm, with the Galatasaray side, led by Palmer and Young, dictating the pace of the game. The visitors’ attempts to impose their fast-paced style of play were thwarted, while the hosts showcased their accuracy in the opening exchanges. The Galatasaray opened up a nine-point lead courtesy of baskets from Wallace and Young, leaving the Unicaja in a precarious position at 19-10. However, Tyson Carter and Kilian Tillie’s timely triples helped reduce the deficit, and although Blumbergs, Cummings, and Wallace continued to find the net with ease, a late surge from Carter brought the Unicaja within three points at 24-21 by the end of the first quarter.
The Unicaja’s resurgence in the second quarter was short-lived, as the Galatasaray regained their composure and stretched their lead to ten points, thanks in part to impressive performances from Young and Tuncer. The Unicaja’s defense was found wanting, and the team’s overall physical condition seemed inadequate to cope with the Galatasaray’s rapid tempo. Nevertheless, Kam Taylor and Osetkowski managed to restore some parity to the game, with Tyson Pérez’s crucial triple, set up by Perry and Osetkowski, helping the Unicaja draw level at 38-38 by halftime.
The restart failed to bring about a significant improvement for the Unicaja, as both teams vied for control. However, it was the Galatasaray who capitalized on an inspired Cummings, who scored five consecutive points to put his side back in the driving seat. The Unicaja responded with a series of triples, primarily courtesy of Kendrick Perry, but their defensive frailties persisted. Kam Taylor and Tyson Carter levelled the scores on multiple occasions, but the Galatasaray’s advantage remained intact. A fracas involving Balcerowski added to the tension, while Wallace’s triple at the end of the third quarter gave the hosts a 62-57 lead.
In the final quarter, Cummings continued to be a thorn in the Unicaja’s side, with the Galatasaray maintaining their lead despite the visitors’ best efforts to mount a comeback. Kendrick Perry’s points kept the Unicaja in contention, but the Galatasaray’s advantage proved difficult to overcome. Wallace’s vital triple seemed to have sealed the win, but Kam Taylor’s incredible three-pointer kept the Unicaja’s hopes alive. However, Palmer’s first triple of the game put the visitors on the brink of defeat, and although Kam Taylor responded with another triple, it was Kilian Tillie’s equalizing three-pointer with just 15 seconds left that set up a thrilling finale.
Ultimately, it was Palmer who proved to be the hero for the Galatasaray, as he drove effectively to score the decisive point, while Tyson Carter’s desperate triple attempt came too late. The final score of 86-84 marked the Unicaja’s first defeat in 19 games in the BCL, underlining the challenges that Turkish teams continue to pose for the Malaga side.
