GER - Bamberg rout Dragons to reach finals

BAMBERG (Beko BBL) - Brose Baskets Bamberg smashed the Artland Dragons 83-55 book their place in the Bundesliga play-off finals.

After a close semi-final series, Bamberg exploded in Game 5 with a dominating performance on both ends.

Predrag Suput scored 17 points while Brian Roberts and Casey Jacobsen (pictured) had 15 each as Bamberg shot a blistering 65.4 percent (17 of 26) from two-point range and 50.9 percent (30 of 59) overall.

Just as importantly, they shut down the Dragons' star guard Tyrese Rice, holding him to 13 points as he failed to make a three-pointer. Rice was the only Dragons player to score in double figures as they shot only 39.3 percent (22 of 56).

Artland had tied the series up with a victory on Sunday and Bamberg coach Chris Fleming was delighted with how his players had responded.

"After the defeat, the players came back and did not dwell on it, they just immediately focused on game five," he said.

"Today it was precisely this attitude that really helped us."

Dragons coach Stefan Koch congratulated Bamberg while contemplating what went wrong for his own team.

"Bamberg go to the finals and they have certainly earned it," he said. "We feel the sting of defeat and this is a low way to end the season. Today we have shown that in several areas of the game we are not complete."

Bamberg now await the winner of the other semi-final, tied at 2-2 between the Deutsche Bank Skyliners and Alba Berlin.

Game 5 is on Thursday.

FIBA