Sloga Uppsala — Norrkoping: 90:97, Basketligan

Norrköping defeated Sloga Uppsala 97-90 in the Swedish Basketball League on Tuesday evening. The result lifted the visitors further clear of the mid-table pack while Sloga's struggles continued. We had tipped the away side to win, and at 70 per cent confidence, we were right. By then the pattern was already clear enough.

There were no dramatic swings to recount. Norrköping's shooting from range told the story, with 16 successful three-pointers against their 30 attempts. Sloga could only manage nine from 28. And here's the thing — the visitors didn't need volume to win. They took their chances when they mattered.

The statistics paint a straightforward picture. Norrköping hit 35 of 67 field goals, compared to 31 from 67 for the hosts. Both sides recorded 23 assists, but the visitors committed fewer turnovers, eight against nine. Norrköping also pulled down 16 offensive rebounds to Sloga's 15, a small margin that added up over 40 minutes.

To be fair, Sloga kept things competitive for stretches. They out-rebounded Norrköping 37-26 and recorded four blocks to the visitors' zero. Their defensive rebounds were solid, but the high line of three-point attempts never quite converted at the rate they needed. Norrköping's efficiency from distance proved decisive.

The standings now reflect the gap between the two sides. Norrköping sit second with 22 wins from 30 games, while Sloga remain 11th with just six victories. The hosts have lost four of their last five, including this defeat, and the distance to safety is widening. Norrköping's run continues, and they are building something that looks genuine.