PAOK B.C. escaped Sarajevo with a narrow 75-72 road win over KK Bosna ASA BH TELECOM, edging a tense EuroCup Basketball encounter that went down to the final possessions. In a game where neither side ever truly broke away, the Greek club's late-game execution and defensive discipline proved just enough to silence a passionate home crowd.

Match Overview

Bosna came into the fixture determined to use their home support as a sixth man, and for long periods it worked. The hosts played with energy and physicality, controlling the defensive glass and forcing PAOK into uncomfortable late-clock situations. But the visitors stayed patient, and when the game reached its decisive moments they found the cleaner looks and the bigger stops.

• Final score: KK Bosna ASA BH TELECOM 72, PAOK B.C. 75
• Competition: EuroCup Basketball
• Venue: Sarajevo
• Margin: Three points, decided in the final minute

How the Game Unfolded

The opening quarter was a cagey, defense-first affair. Both teams struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter, and the scoring came largely from mid-range jumpers and put-backs. Bosna's guards attacked the rim with purpose, earning trips to the free-throw line, while PAOK answered with efficient ball movement and timely cuts behind the defense.

Bosna edge ahead in the second period, briefly opening a six-point cushion behind a run of consecutive stops. The home crowd responded, and PAOK looked rattled for a stretch, turning the ball over against Bosna's aggressive traps. But a composed finish to the half — capped by a three-pointer in the final seconds — cut the deficit to a single basket at the break.

The third quarter belonged to PAOK. Their defense tightened noticeably, closing off the paint and forcing Bosna into low-percentage contested jumpers. A 10-2 run midway through the period gave the visitors their first meaningful lead, and they carried a slender advantage into the final quarter.

The last ten minutes were played at a frantic pace. Bosna reclaimed the lead twice, riding the energy of the crowd, but each time PAOK answered with a big shot of their own. With the score tied at 72-72 in the final minute, PAOK executed a well-designed set to score, then forced a contested miss at the other end. A pair of free throws iced the game and left the hosts with no time to respond.

Tactical Story

The defining battle was fought at the three-point line and on the boards. Bosna's game plan revolved around inside-out basketball, using their bigs to draw help defenders before kicking to open shooters. PAOK adjusted by switching more aggressively on screens and rotating faster on the back side, which gradually dried up those clean looks as the game wore on.

Offensively, PAOK's advantage came from their balance. Rather than relying on one dominant scorer, they spread the load across the rotation, keeping Bosna's defense guessing and preventing the hosts from keying in on a single matchup. That depth proved crucial in a game decided by a handful of possessions.

Standout Players

PAOK's backcourt was the difference in crunch time, dictating tempo and hitting the key shots down the stretch. Their defensive anchor also had a strong outing, protecting the rim and altering several attempts in the fourth quarter. For Bosna, the frontcourt delivered a gritty performance on the glass, while their shooting guard carried much of the scoring load and kept the hosts in front during the middle quarters.

What It Means for the EuroCup Season

Road wins in the EuroCup are valuable currency, and PAOK will treat this as a statement result — proof that they can handle hostile environments and win ugly when the shots aren't falling. It also gives them an early edge in what promises to be a tightly contested group.

Bosna leave with a moral victory but no points. The performance showed they can compete with established EuroCup opposition, and the narrow margin suggests the return fixture in Greece could be one of the more intriguing games of the group phase. If they can improve their late-game execution, the wins will follow.