Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin – ACS Târgu Jiu 67–73 Vâlcea
Date: 1 May 2026

In a crucial Liga Națională de Baschet Masculin (LNBM) matchup on 1 May 2026, Vâlcea secured a hard-fought 73–67 road win over ACS Târgu Jiu. The result reinforces Vâlcea’s push for a higher playoff seed, while Târgu Jiu continues to fight for consistency in the middle of the Romanian top-flight standings.

Match Overview

The game was characterized by rugged defense and a deliberate pace, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm early. Vâlcea took a narrow 35–33 lead into halftime, before pulling away in the third quarter with a 22–14 run. ACS Târgu Jiu mounted a late charge in the fourth, cutting the deficit to three points with under two minutes to play, but Vâlcea’s veteran leadership and free-throw shooting closed out the victory.

Key Moments

• Third Quarter Surge: Vâlcea opened the second half with a 10–0 run, fueled by two steals and fast-break conversions. This extended their lead to 14 points—the largest of the night.
• Târgu Jiu’s Fightback: Down 63–51 entering the fourth, the home team used a full-court press to force turnovers and score seven unanswered points, closing to 68–65 with 1:45 left.
• Clutch Free Throws: Vâlcea’s point guard calmly sank 4-of-4 from the line in the final 45 seconds to ice the game.

Standout Players

• Vâlcea: A dominant performance from their center, who finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 blocks, controlling the paint at both ends. The team’s guard also contributed 15 points and 7 assists.
• ACS Târgu Jiu: Their leading scorer poured in 20 points, but shot just 8-of-22 from the field. A versatile forward added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Season Impact

The win moves Vâlcea into a tie for fourth place in the LNBM standings, putting them in strong position for home-court advantage in the first playoff round. ACS Târgu Jiu drops to ninth, now two games back from the final playoff spot with only five games remaining in the regular season.

Vâlcea’s defense held Târgu Jiu to 39% shooting from the floor, including just 4-of-19 from three-point range. The road team also won the rebounding battle 46–38, a key factor in the final margin.