A tip-in after a desperation heave at the buzzer was a moment too late for Flamengo against Minas in the final game of the quarterfinals at the 2022 FIBA Basketball Champions League Playoffs in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday night, with Minas scratching out an 85-83 victory.
In a game that featured thirteen lead changes and neither team leading by more than seven, Minas went on a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter on back-to-back three-pointers by Renan Lenz, followed by a three by Alexey Borges to take the lead 82-80 with :37.7 to play.
After Lenz hit a pair of free throws with 11.6 left, Yago Santos, who scored a game-high 29 points, hit a free throw with 9.4 seconds to play, to get Flamengo back to within one at 84-83. But Guilherme Deodado sank a free throw for one of his 15 points with 8.3 seconds remaining.
Santos heaved a three-point prayer just before the final horn sounded, but the clock clearly showed all zeroes when Dar Tucker caught the ball to the left side of the rim and tipped it in just a fraction of a second too late.
J.P. Batista added 12 points off the bench for Flamengo, which outscored Minas off the bench 30-7 and led in second chance points 18-0. Borges had 18 points and 12 assists to lead Minas. Minas had five players scoring in double figures, and held a 19-6 advantage in fast break points and a 25-12 edge in points off turnovers.
Minas will take on Sao Paulo tomorrow in the semifinals, while Quisma will take on Bigua in the other semi.