On the back of their first loss, Gonzaga fans are wondering if they can take out No. 1 Duke in an upcoming game. But before you worry about that, let’s talk about what happened on Saturday night at Phog Allen Field House…
The “gonzaga vs duke highlights” is a game between the No. 5 Duke and the No. 1 Gonzaga that was played on March 17, 2018. The game ended with Duke winning by one point at 84-83.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Duke guard Paolo Banchero had a nasty case of déjà vu in the second half of his team’s electrifying 84-81 triumph against No. 1 Gonzaga on Friday night in front of a sold-out T-Mobile Arena crowd.
His cramping difficulties had resurfaced and halted him after he scored 20 of his game-high 21 points in the first half, the same cramping issues that had delayed his debut in a season-opening victory against Kentucky.
Banchero, ESPN’s predicted No. 2 selection in the 2023 NBA draft, stated, “I’m not sure what it is, this game, the Kentucky game.” “Except for those two games, I haven’t cramped all season. I attempted to chase it off as soon as I felt it… I nearly fell over. My quads were both cramped up. I had no choice but to come out at that time.”
Banchero had to leave the game to obtain an IV, but he would return with less than eight minutes remaining. In the second half, he only had one point.
With Banchero out, the No. 5 Blue Devils showed their depth by relying on a cast of co-stars to help them pull off a memorable victory against the nation’s top squad.
Wendell Moore Jr., who claimed he could only convey the “PG version” of the pep talk he gave his teammates in the second half as Gonzaga fought back, hit two free throws with 19 seconds left in the game to give Duke a four-point lead and finish with 20 points.
On Friday night, Mark Williams could have been the MVP. With over 30 seconds left, his excellent defense on Drew Timme’s jumper in the paint was just one of several critical plays he made in a night that featured 17 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks.
Williams noted after the game, “I give credit to my teammates, particularly tonight.” “They tracked me down in all the proper areas.”
Gonzaga, on the other hand, overcame adversity to keep the game close. Despite Banchero’s dominance in the first half, Gonzaga trailed by three at halftime. Chet Holmgren (16 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks), the No. 1 selection in the 2023 draft according to ESPN, picked up his second foul with 10:23 left in the first half and didn’t return until halftime. Timme also missed a crucial six-minute stretch late in the second half after picking up his fourth foul.
But Julian Strawther, a Las Vegas native who was surrounded by family and friends, stepped up and ended with 20 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.
In the second half, there were eight lead changes, although no side led by more than five points.
In the end, though, Banchero’s strong start and Duke’s roster’s dedication and athleticism gave the Blue Devils the upper hand. Duke took advantage of Gonzaga’s 17 turnovers to score 23 points. Against the Blue Devils, Gonzaga turned the ball over on roughly one-fourth of its possessions. After “being smacked in the mouth” early, Gonzaga coach Mark Few felt the Bulldogs still had a chance to win late.
“It simply came down to them making one more shot down the stretch than we did,” Few said.
The game between No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 5 Duke at T-Mobile Arena seemed heightened in every way.
Police vehicles had shut the streets around the building, and security was tight. Some fans rushed to get tickets in the hours leading up to the event. The most expensive courtside tickets were trading for over $8,000 as tipoff neared.
The audience of 20,389, which included Brooks Koepka and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who wore a necklace that glistened throughout the arena, established a record for the biggest basketball crowd in Nevada history.
“This was a big-time game,” remarked Krzyzewski. “Wow, what a fantastic audience.”
Timme stated: “It had the feel of a Final Four game. The ambiance was fantastic. It was a battle between two Goliaths.”
Watch This Video-
The “duke basketball report” is a sports website that covers the No. 5 Duke taking out the No. 1 Gonzaga in a clash of unbeaten teams.
Related Tags
- duke gonzaga box score
- duke vs gonzaga box score
- duke gonzaga highlights
- duke vs gonzaga stats
- duke basketball players
