Szolnoki Olajbányász edged NKA Pécs 74-70 in a hard-fought Nemzeti Bajnokság I/A contest that came down to the final possessions. On a night when neither offence found a comfortable rhythm, the visitors' composure in the closing minutes and their superiority at the free-throw line proved decisive in a game that was separated by a single basket for most of the fourth quarter.

Match Overview

The contest was a defensive battle from the opening tip. Both teams prioritised physicality on the perimeter and contested every shot, leading to low shooting percentages and a slow, grind-it-out tempo. Pécs found some traction in the third quarter behind a surge from the home crowd, but Szolnok's veteran leadership and disciplined execution in the final five minutes restored their edge.

Quarter-by-Quarter

• Q1: Szolnok 20–18 – a tight opening period decided by a late three-pointer.
• Q2: Szolnok 19–17 – the visitors maintained a narrow cushion into the break.
• Q3: Pécs 19–16 – the hosts briefly took the lead with an energetic run.
• Q4: Szolnok 19–16 – a composed finish, including six straight free throws in the last 90 seconds.

Key Moments

Pécs led 66-64 with just over four minutes remaining after a fast-break dunk that lifted the home crowd. From there, Szolnok executed flawlessly: a post-up basket tied the game, a steal led to a transition lay-up, and then a run of free throws gradually stretched the lead. Pécs had two looks from three-point range in the final 30 seconds that would have levelled the score, but both rimmed out.

Tactical Story

Szolnok's victory was built on half-court discipline. They slowed the game down, ran their offensive sets to completion, and consistently found mismatches inside against a Pécs frontcourt that struggled with foul trouble. The visitors also protected the ball well, finishing with a low turnover count that denied Pécs the easy transition points they needed to spark their offence.

Pécs' best stretches came when they pushed the tempo and attacked before the defence was set. Their third-quarter run was built entirely on defensive stops converted into quick baskets. However, when Szolnok slowed the pace again in the fourth, the hosts lacked a reliable half-court scoring option to break down a set defence.

Standout Players

• Szolnok guard Gergő Molnár – 19 points, including 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, and 5 assists.
• Szolnok forward Zoltán Kiss – 15 points and 9 rebounds, winning the physical battle inside.
• Pécs guard Bence Varga – 18 points and 6 rebounds, the hosts' leading scorer.
• Pécs centre László Fehér – 12 points and 10 rebounds before foul trouble limited his minutes.

Standings Impact

The narrow win gives Szolnok a valuable road result against a rival chasing the same playoff positions, and it underlines their ability to win tight games away from home. Pécs, meanwhile, will feel this was a game they let slip — a four-point defeat in which they led in the fourth quarter and had chances to force overtime. Both sides remain in the thick of the mid-table battle, where every result carries significant seeding implications.