Resilient Bayern overtake Red Star

Bayern’s basketball team has taken a crucial step in the intense battle for the EuroLeague playoffs. Despite missing key players, they secured a decisive home victory in front of 11,200 fans against Red Star Belgrade. In a heated duel, the injury-hit German champions overwhelmed the stunned Serbian team and its 2,000 traveling supporters before halftime, celebrating a 100-82 (52-37) win. With a 17-11 record, Gordie Herbert’s squad now sits ahead of Belgrade in the standings.

Top scorers were Edwards (30), Lucic (18), and Napier (16). On Sunday, the BBL leaders will host fifth-placed Heidelberg at BMW Park, with tip-off at 6 PM.

Boxscore

Napier and Lucic Lead the Way

Bayern, without Booker and da Silva, got off to a slow start, trailing 3:14 after five minutes. Turnovers and rebounds given away played right into Red Star’s hands, yet the home team dug in despite the physical disadvantages: Giffey and Voigtmann hit the first basket to take the lead at 20:18, though Niels shortly thereafter picked up his early third foul (10.).

Napier took on a great deal of responsibility against his former club, electrifying the arena with a four-point play. When Obst, Lucic, and Edwards followed up with buzzer-beating shots to the delight of the crowd, FCBB suddenly led comfortably at halftime.

Strong Three-Point Shooting

They made ten out of 20 three-pointers (51% overall) - impressive - and after halftime, Lucic, Napier, and Edwards each hit three more, reaching 64:37! At 73:45, the direct comparison with the first leg (77:101) finally became an issue. However, the visitors managed to contain the deficit in the end, especially as FCBB began to tire. Nevertheless, the win was celebrated.

Quotes:

Gordon Herbert, Head Coach FC Bayern Basketball: "The team really came together in the three days before our game in Chemnitz. We made some progress there and continued that today. I think the second and third quarters were outstanding. Shabazz (Napier) came in and played really well, and Danko Brankovic gave us some great minutes in the second quarter. (…) Of course, I was a bit concerned about how we started. We were sloppy, not in the game. But with Andi (Obst), Shabazz, and Niels (Giffey), we found our rhythm. The first three minutes of the first quarter were not good, but the first three minutes of the third were excellent. So, we are learning. (…) Our defense was really strong. I also liked our fighting spirit, how we played hard together, and defensively we took a few steps forward. (…) Carsen Edwards is like a microwave - Shabazz and Nick look for him when he gets hot. But I also appreciate Carsen's defensive effort; he contributed in many small ways and has improved in that area."

Carsen Edwards: "Belgrade plays very physically, and we weren’t ready for that in the first few minutes. But luckily, we flipped the switch. In the end, it wasn’t a close game, but we knew Belgrade could go on a run at any time because they have many players who can score. We stayed focused and really wanted to win this game. My teammates put me in good positions and created open shots for me - that’s the only reason I was able to score so many points."

Vladimir Lucic: "Red Star is a really strong opponent - I said that before the game. They are talented and experienced, and just like us, they are in a good position in the standings, fighting for the playoffs or play-ins. We were a bit nervous at the beginning, but we found a way to establish our rhythm both offensively and defensively—and in the end, it was a really big win for us."