Lobos Pletados edged Astros 79:71 in the LNBP on Saturday, 2 August, turning a tight affair into a two-point victory after the hosts had won the reverse fixture 73:64 the day before. The result means the visitors have taken the upper hand in what is shaping up as a competitive pairing.
Shooting was even — both sides hit seven three-pointers — but Lobos Pletados were sharper from the line, converting 18 of 26 free throws to Astros' 14 of 21. The visitors also turned the ball over less, 13 to 16, and generated nine steals against seven, which is the sort of detail that separates a win from a loss when scores are this close.
And here's the thing: Astros came into the game on a run, having won four straight, but they didn't travel to make up the numbers. They let the game flow in the opening half, then found a way through only to gift the goal back when Lobos Pletados turned it around after the break.
By then the momentum had shifted. Astros collected 26 rebounds to 25, and their 58 field goal attempts yielded 25 makes — a fraction better than Lobos Pletados' 27 from 55 — but the extra free throws and fewer turnovers told the real story.
Lobos Pletados cannot afford another slip now. They have taken control of the tie, and if Astros want to respond they will need to find a way through the visitors' defence without playing the second half a man down.