Jaka Lakovic leads Galatasaray Medical Park to first ever Euroleague win; Beat
Asseco Prokom 76-72
Galatasaray Medical Park had a strong start in Turkish Airlines Euroleague Group D with a 76-72 victory over Asseco Prokom on Wednesday night in Gydnia, Poland. It was Galatasaray’s first ever on the European circuit.
Galatasaray were led by Jaka Lakovic, who hammered a game-high 21 points on a brilliant 6 for 7 shooting from three-point range. The player also dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds for Galatasaray. Preston Shumpert
chipped in 12 points while Luksa Andric added 11 points and four rebounds in the victory.
Four Prokom players scored in double figures but it was not enough to keep the Galatasaray at bay. Adam Hrycaniuk and Donatas Motiejunas headed Asseco with 15 points each. Motiejunas also grabbed five rebounds and dished out four
assists. Oliver Lafayette racked up 12 points on 2 for 2 shooting from downtown while Alonzo Gee ended with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Galatasaray opened the game on a 5-0 run and held a 21-13 lead with one minute to go in the first quarter. However, Prokom came right back six unanswered points in the closing minute of the quarter, allowing them to stay within
two points after the opening period.
Prokom were back into the contest in the second quarter. They outscored Galatasaray 18-11, taking control with a 37-32 lead at halftime.
Galatasaray however blew away in third quarter and went ahead by 56-44 before Asseco hit 4 free throws to trim their deficit to eight. However, Preston Shumpert buried a buzzer-beating triple to push Galatasaray’s lead to 11-point,
heading into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Galatasaray continued to play quality shots and increased their lead to 18 points, 70-52.
Prokom however made a frantic comeback and reeled off an impressive 15-0, trimming Galatasaray’s lead to just three. Luksa Andric then hit a free throw to make it 71-67 for Galatasaray. However, Asseco answered with four straight
points and tied the game at 71.
Jaka Lakovic and Andric got Galatasaray going with a free throw and a two-pointer, respectively. Alonzo Gee answered with a free throw to make it a two-point contest, 74-72, with one minute to go in the final buzzer, but fouled
Joshua Shipp, who made only 1 free throw to seal the victory.
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