Caxias do Sul suffered a 78-70 defeat at home against CAIXA Brasília Basquete in a tightly contested Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) encounter on April 26, 2026. The match, held at the Ginásio Poliesportivo in Caxias do Sul, saw the visitors from Brasília control the tempo in key stretches to secure a valuable road victory.

Match Overview

The game was a tale of two halves, with Brasília establishing a lead early and withstanding a late surge from the hosts. Caxias do Sul, known for their energetic home crowd, started strong but faltered in the second quarter, allowing Brasília to build a cushion they would never fully surrender. The final score of 78-70 reflects a hard-fought battle that kept spectators on edge throughout the fourth quarter.

Key Moments

• First Half Momentum Shift: After a competitive first quarter, Brasília tightened their defense in the second period, limiting Caxias do Sul to just 15 points while scoring 22 themselves. This run proved decisive.
• Comeback Attempt: Caxias do Sul trimmed the deficit to six points with under three minutes remaining, but Brasília responded with a clutch three-pointer and a defensive stop to seal the win.
• Free Throw Execution: Brasília shot 85% from the free-throw line in the final five minutes, converting 12 of 14 attempts to keep the scoreboard pressure on the hosts.

Tactical Story

Brasília coach implemented a zone defense that disrupted Caxias do Sul's half-court offense, forcing them into contested jump shots and 14 turnovers. Offensively, Brasília exploited mismatches in the paint, scoring 38 points in the compared to Caxias's 24. The visitors also dominated the glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds that led to second-chance points.

Standout Players

For Brasília, guard Lucas Bento led all scorers with 22 points, including four three-pointers, and added 6 assists. Center Rafael Santos contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. On the Caxias do Sul side, forward Thiago Oliveira was the offensive engine, pouring in 18 points and grabbing 7 boards, while point guard Felipe Costa dished out 8 assists but struggled with 5 turnovers under pressure.

Table and Season Impact

The victory improved Brasília's record to 18-12, keeping them firmly in playoff contention in the NBB standings. For Caxias do Sul, the loss dropped them to 14-16, placing them in a precarious position near the playoff cutoff line. Both teams will look to bounce back in their upcoming matches as the regular season enters its critical final stretch.