Neptunas took down JL Bourg 93:89 in the EuroCup on Monday evening, securing a narrow victory over the second-placed visitors. The hosts played at home and managed to hold on despite the gap in league standings going into the match.
Both sides came into this fixture with mixed recent form. Neptunas had lost their last two outings, including a 77:86 defeat to Rytas and an 84:93 loss to Chemnitz 99ers. Bourg were also coming off a 73:84 loss to Bulazak, though they had bounced back with a 90:77 win over Châlons/Son.
The statistics tell an interesting story. Bourg shot more field goals with 36 compared to 34, and took more three-pointers with 25 against 14. Yet Neptunas converted their free throws at a higher rate, sinking 17 of 19 attempts compared to Bourg's 9 from 15. The hosts also grabbed more offensive rebounds, 10 to 12, and controlled the pace through fewer turnovers at 12 versus 9.
Bourg dominated the boards with 31 total rebounds to Neptunas's 33, and added more assists with 16 against 14. The visitors also recorded more blocks with 8 compared to 3, and more steals with 6 to 4. But those defensive numbers did not translate into a win on the scoreboard.
Neptunas remain eighth on the table with seven wins from 18 games, while Bourg sit second with 13 victories and five defeats. The result keeps the gap between them at 11 points in the standings, though the closer scoreline suggests the hosts were competitive.
This was a fourth straight meeting between sides where the underdog managed to push the leaders. Neptunas had not won in three before this, and the win lifts them off the bottom half of the table. Bourg's loss ends a streak of four consecutive victories, and there is unrest in the dressing room after consecutive defeats.
