Tindastoll defeated Liepāja 92 to 69 in the European Basketball League on Wednesday evening. The Icelandic side made no mistake in a game they controlled from the opening tip-off. Liepāja never really found their rhythm and folded under pressure they couldn't withstand.
The visitors sit third in the table after eight games, with six wins and two losses to their name. That record tells you everything about a side that knows how to close out matches. They didn't let Liepāja anywhere near them tonight.
And here's the thing — we had this one right. We gave away 75 per cent confidence on the away side and the result proved us correct. Tindastoll turned up prepared and played with a clarity you don't see every week. They didn't need to chase anything.
Liepāja's recent run has been messy. They lost three straight to Rīgas Celtnieks before that 102-83 victory over Latvian University. Three defeats in a row to the same opponent doesn't build confidence. To be fair, they've faced tougher opposition since, but the pattern was there.
Tindastoll's form hasn't been pretty either. They lost four of their last five against Grindavík, only managing one win. The Grindavík matches were tight affairs — 94-89, 83-86, 80-85 — but tonight they finally pulled away. By then the game was already settled.
The result keeps Tindastoll in touch with the leaders and puts further pressure on those above them. Liepāja, meanwhile, face a tough stretch ahead. A 23-point deficit doesn't hide the fact they were outclassed.
