In a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire, Târgu Mureș edged out ACS Târgu Jiu 98-95 in a Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin clash on May 17, 2026. The visitors held their nerve in the final possessions to snatch a dramatic road victory, leaving the home crowd at the Târgu Jiu Arena stunned.

Match Overview

Both teams came into the game with contrasting ambitions in the Romanian top-flight standings. Târgu Jiu aimed to protect their home court, while Mureș sought to strengthen their playoff positioning. From the opening tip, the contest lived up to its billing as a high-scoring affair, with neither side able to establish a double-digit lead. The final quarter featured six lead changes, setting the stage for a tense finish.

Key Moments

• First half surge by Târgu Jiu – The hosts opened with a 12-2 run, but Mureș answered with a 15-4 burst to close the first quarter up 28-24.
• Second quarter back-and-forth – Both teams shot over 50% from the field, and the score was knotted at 51-51 at halftime.
• Mureș takes control in the third – A 9-0 run early in the third gave the visitors a 68-60 advantage, but Târgu Jiu clawed back to trail 75-73 entering the final period.
• Clutch free throws seal the win – With 12 seconds left and the score tied at 95, Mureș’s point guard drew a foul and calmly sank both free throws. A desperation three from Târgu Jiu missed, securing the 98-95 victory.

Tactical Story

ACS Târgu Jiu relied heavily on their inside game, scoring 48 points in the paint. However, Târgu Mureș countered with a spread pick-and-roll offense that exploited mismatches on the perimeter. The visitors also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 14 rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points. Defensively, Mureș switched effectively on screens, limiting Târgu Jiu’s three-point shooting to just 28% (7-of-25).

Standout Players

For Târgu Mureș, American guard Johnny Miller poured in a game-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also dished out 7 assists and grabbed 5 rebounds. Romanian forward Andrei Popa added 22 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

On the home side, Marko Simonović led with 26 points and 8 rebounds, while playmaker David Lazăr recorded 14 points and 10 assists. Despite their efforts, Târgu Jiu couldn’t overcome Mureș’s clutch execution in the final minute.

Season Impact

The win improved Târgu Mureș’s record to 18-10, keeping them firmly in contention for a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs. For ACS Târgu Jiu, now 14-14, the loss dealt a blow to their hopes of climbing above .500 and securing a safer postseason spot. With the regular season winding down, every game carries extra weight in the Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin standings.