Bamberg fell to Sintai Niks MBC 74:85 in the BBL on Saturday. The visitors took the lead in the second period and never looked back, extending a run that has seen them win three of their last four league games. We had backed the hosts to edge a tight contest, but the visitors tightened things up on both ends of the floor and handed themselves a comfortable margin.
Bamberg started brightly and led by seven after the first quarter, but Sintai Niks switched to a back three and held their nerve in the second. The away side went into the break up by four, a shift that reflected their willingness to attack the paint rather than settle for outside shots.
The third period belonged to the visitors. They pushed the tempo and Bamberg was left exposed on the break, allowing Sintai Niks to pull away to a ten-point cushion. The hosts tried to respond but missed consecutive free throws and the gap widened to twelve before the final quarter.
Bamberg's recent form has been uneven, with losses to Peristeris and Ludwigsburg in their last three outings. Sintai Niks, by contrast, are closing in on a top-six finish after beating Ulm and Jena in September. The visitors' defence was tighter in the final period and they refused to go away when the home side made a late push.
The result leaves Bamberg in the lower half of the table while Sintai Niks move into fifth place, two points behind the top four. The visitors now sit on a three-game winning streak and look comfortable with their position.
