Sintai尼克斯 MBS saw off Jena 77-62 in Thursday evening's BBL fixture in Australia. The hosts managed to impose their will from the opening tip and never really let the visitors back into the contest. It was a straightforward outcome that reflected the gulf between two sides on paper.
By then it was clear the home team had found their rhythm. They moved the ball better, shot with more confidence, and Jena simply could not match the pace. The scoreboard told the story without needing further explanation.
And here's the thing, we had tipped the hosts to win at 60 per cent confidence. The result vindicated that call, though not because the game was ever in doubt. Sintai尼克斯 MBS were simply the stronger unit on the night.
To be fair, the hosts had been inconsistent of late. They lost to Oldenburg 81-96 just days earlier and had not won their last two away fixtures. But against Jena they showed up when it mattered. The form guide suggests they can spring a surprise still.
Jena's run of defeats continued. They had lost to Frankfurt 63-94 in their last outing and now added another loss to the ledger. The gap between these two sides seems to have widened considerably since the start of the season.
By the final whistle the home side had built enough of a cushion to see out the game without incident. The 15-point margin was fair reflection of a performance that was thorough rather than spectacular.
