Buducnost squandered a +15 lead and experienced another loss, with McKinley Wright as the tragic figure
0![Buducnost squandered a +15 lead and experienced another loss, with McKinley Wright as the tragic figure Buducnost-1](https://basketballsphere.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Buducnost-1.jpg)
Photo: ABA liga / Dragana Stjepanović
Buducnost suffered their eighth loss in the EuroCup as they were defeated by Cluj 79:77 on their home court in the 13th round of Group B.
Podgorica’s team had an excellent start to the game, taking a 9:2 lead with better defensive play. Cluj found a good rhythm and closed the gap to just one point. After the first quarter, the reigning champions of Montenegro led 22:19.
In the middle of the second quarter, Buducnost played much better. With excellent moves on both ends of the court, they created an 8:0 run to establish a double-digit lead. The home team went into halftime with a 14-point advantage.
Cluj performed exceptionally well in the second half, staging an 11:0 run to get back into the game. However, Buducnost had a prepared response, withstanding the opponent’s surge and regaining a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter.
The home team led 65:55, but Cluj, with a 9:0 run, managed to make the closing minutes uncertain. The Romanian team didn’t stop there; they completed a full turnaround and, with Bryce Jones scoring, took a four-point lead. Buducnostattempted a comeback but fell short. McKinley Wright had a chance to force overtime, but he missed.
Patrick Richard and Andrija Stipanovic led Cluj to win with 16 points each, while on the other side, Brandon Paul and Petar Popovic were the top scorers with 13 points each.
In other matches, Aris defeated Slask 83:71. Hapoel Tel Aviv won an incredible match against Hamburg with a score of 118:101, and the Trento celebrated a home winagainst Lietkabelis by 76:70.