It's getting down to crunch time: The third-to-last game of the regular season takes the Bayern Basketball team to BG Goettingen on Sunday evening. It's quite possible that both teams will meet again in the playoff quarterfinals (May 16 and 18 at the Audi Dome), because the team from Lower Saxony is currently sixth in the standings and would therefore face the third-place Cup winner, if things remain the same.
For Munich, Sunday (18:00/MagentaSport) will be the 70th competitive game of the season, no other team has played more. By way of comparison, this will be the 33rd game for Niedersachsen, who have now also qualified for the playoffs, while current league leader Bonn has only played 47 games, including international appearances.
"A good test"
"This is another opportunity for us to continue to grow so we can go into the playoffs playing our best basketball," Bayern point guard Cassius Winston said before Saturday's departure. "They're a playoff team now, too, so this is a good test."
Göttingen is undoubtedly the surprise team of the season as the BG clinched the playoffs early with a 92-74 win over Wurzburg and thus will head to the second round for the first time since their re-promotion in 2011. Last year, the team around coach Roel Moors just barely missed the playoffs
„Fan-Night“ On Thursday vs Heidelberg
The hosts, supported in a packed hall with 3,400 fans, are driven offensively by young guard Mark Smith, 23, (17.2 ppg). Behind him is Norwegian Harald Frey (14.8), Geno Crandall (12.2), center Rayshaun Hammonds (11.3/5.2 rpg), German rising star Till Pape (11.4) and Javon Bess (9.7). all key contributors to a team that averages 27 threes (36.1%).
Bayern will play its final regular season home game on Thursday (19:00.) in the Audi Dome against Heidelberg. At this "Fan Night," the entire team will be available for autographs and photos after the game. Before the tip-off, there will be free beer from Paulaner and special catering from Feinkost Kafer (17:30-18:00).
