Overview
- The victory at Vitoria’s Buesa Arena moved Baskonia past Bilbao in a rivalry game that began with both teams 3–4 in Liga Endesa.
- Baskonia’s 71 by the break was the ACB’s highest first-half total since 1996, the fourth-best on record, and the club’s most prolific half ever.
- A 33–23 opening period and a 38–23 second quarter built a 71–46 halftime lead that Baskonia managed comfortably to the finish.
- Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot led Baskonia with 24 points, with Markus Howard adding 14 and Mamadi Diakite 12; Bilbao’s top scorers were Darrun Hilliard with 16 and Martin Krampelj and Margiris Normantas with 15 each.
- Context around the derby included Baskonia’s EuroLeague win over Bayern two days earlier, Bilbao’s record FIBA Europe Cup blowout in midweek, and a pregame display against gender violence with visiting support estimated at about 400.