Lisboa e Benfica 90–72 SC Braga | Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol

Benfica cruised to a dominant 90–72 victory over SC Braga at Pavilhão da Luz, extending their winning streak to seven games and tightening their grip on first place in the Portuguese league.

Match Overview

From the opening minutes, Benfica’s defensive intensity set the tone. They forced 10 first‑half turnovers and raced to a 48–28 lead by halftime. Braga trimmed the deficit to 14 in the third quarter, but Benfica responded with a 12‑2 run to put the game out of reach. The home side’s depth and discipline proved too much for Braga to handle.

Key Moments

• First‑quarter dominance: Benfica opened the game on a 15–4 run, never trailing.
• Bench production: Benfica’s reserves outscored Braga’s bench 32–14.
• Three‑point barrage: Benfica shot 14‑of‑30 (46.7%) from beyond the arc, while Braga hit just 5 of 19.

Tactical Story

Benfica’s motion offense created high‑percentage looks, especially from the corners. They also dominated the glass (42‑28 rebounds), limiting Braga to one‑and‑done possessions. On defense, Benfica switched everything, confusing Braga’s guards and forcing difficult floaters.

Standout Players

• Benfica: Guard João Soares scored 24 points (5‑of‑8 from three) and dished 6 assists; forward Ricardo Lopes added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
• Braga: Shooting guard Diogo Martins fought for 19 points, but no other Braga player reached double figures.

Table Impact

Benfica (19–2) remains atop the Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol, two games clear of second‑place Porto. Braga (10–11) stays in 6th, still in the playoff race but now three games back of the top four.